Description
Large Folk Art 19thC Pennsylvania Folk Art Squirrel House Ex. Leader/Sensinger/Roth Estate Wanamaker, Lehigh County, PA This was the kind of auction of which we all dream: a two day sale at a farmstead that dated back to the revolutionary war period. & the history behind the farm was fascinating as well: During the a revolutionary war, Frederick Leaser hauled the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to the safety of a church in Allentown, PA. Among the many items I purchased at this sale was this wonderful folk art squirrel house. It has a painted wooden exterior & a fully tin lined interior. The bars on both the house & wheel are thin iron. It still retains its original red & mustard paint, which has that wonderful crazed surface that can only come with age. I especially love the 9 by 9 inch dormer with its painted white curtains on the glass. It's a much larger piece , measuring 44 inches in total length, than most of the tin squirrel houses I've seen or had. The dimensions are as follows, The house measures 25/inches wide by 29:inches tall by 18:inches deep. The wheel housing measures 18 inches deep by 16 inches high, with the wheel itself measuring 13 inches in diameter. Condition is very good with signs of wear attendant with age & use. Please see photos as they are part of the description. Additional photos will be provided on request. Please note that this is a relatively large & heavy piece & that is reflected in the cost of shipping & insurance. The wheel & its housing detaches from the house & will be shipped separately. Pick up may be available in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. I will also include a copy of the 4 page flyer for the auction as well as a calling card from Caroline & Edward Sensinger. Edward probably made the piece for his daughter, Caroline, during the late 19th C. All in all, this is quite a wonderful piece of Pennsylvania folk art imbued with a wonderful history making it a worthy piece for any serious folk art collection. Antique Squirrel House With Provenance
