Alice (1938-2025) and Art "Bud" Booth were a well-known married couple in the world of Pennsylvania decorative arts and antiques, spending over fifty years, hunting for treasures at local flea markets and high-end auctions alike. Based out of Wayne, New Jersey, they transitioned from passionate collectors to respected dealers, operating under the name The Two Bees. The depth of their collection reflects a lifetime of discernment; some of their most significant objects date back to the 1960s-1980s, having been acquired from such notable Pennsylvania dealers as the legendary Haddie Brunner (1889-1982).
The Booths collection is in the process of being sold at Pook & Pook Auctions in Downington, Pennsylvania, April 15-17, 2026. This is a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from a collection built with the "scholar-dealer" expertise that the couple was known for.
However, from a red earthenware and stoneware standpoint, the highlight of today's day one sale is an 1852-1855 stoneware crock impressed "T.H. Willson & Co. Harrisburg" (Pennsylvania), adorned with a cobalt decoration of a three-masted ship. This mark represents the partnership of Thomas (1808-1870) and Daniel Willson (1815-1868), who were the first manufacturers of stoneware in Harrisburg. Stoneware production did not begin in Harrisburg until 1852 primarily because the region lacked the specific high-fire clay required for its manufacture, and the city’s industrial development was slower than that of major coastal centers, such as Philadelphia and New York City, etc.
Ship motifs are also exceptionally scarce on Central Pennsylvania stoneware, which more typically feature floral or bird designs. It is unclear if this decoration is a specific ship or merely a folk decoration, seeing that Harrisburg’s maritime activity at the time was primarily centered on the Susquehanna River, which was too shallow for a large three-masted ship.
Interestingly, this object last sold at Pennypacker Auction Centre in Kenhorst, Pennsylvania, on June 12, 1978; it sold today for $46,000 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.pookandpook.com/online-auctions/pook/t-h-willson-co-stoneware-crock-9104968.
Note: There are many other notable stoneware and red earthenware objects in day one of the Booth Collection - check the auction catalog for additional information: https://live.pookandpook.com/auctions/pook/the-collection-of-alice-art-booth-session-one-22179.
The Alice & Art Booth Collection, Day 1
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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