Cordier Summer Antique and Fine Art Auction to Feature Collection of Dr. Irwin Richman

July 31, 2015

Cordier’s August 15 and 16 auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania will feature the diverse collection of Dr. Irwin Richman, Penn State University American Studies professor emeritus. The collection includes a large majolica collection, a 16th century British oak coffer and a George Washington bust after William Rush. “We are honored that Dr. Richman contacted our company to sell his collection,” notes Cordier’s owner, David Cordier, “We are very excited to host this auction.”

Dr. Richman, an ardent life-long collector, is the past chair of the graduate program in American Studies at Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg where he was a professor from 1968-2003. He has held various positions at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and was the curator of science, industry and technology at the William Penn Memorial Museum (now the State Museum of Pennsylvania) from 1965-1968. He has served as an architectural history consultant for various institutions and is a frequent presenter and freelance museum curator. In addition to authoring or co-authoring more than 20 books, he has contributed to over 180 articles and reviews to professional journals. Titles of his books include “Borscht Belt Bungalows; Memories of Catskill Summers”, “German Architecture in America”, and “The Landis Family: A Pennsylvania German Family Album”.

The second day of the auction on Sunday will exclusively represent the collection of Dr. Irwin Richman including a George Washington bust after William Rush ($8,000-12,000) and a 16th century British coffer ($600-800) featured in Fiske and Freeman’s “Living with Early Oak” book. Richman’s diverse collection of both interesting and very unusual items also contains a large collection of Continental majolica with a 42 inch blackamoor ($400-600) as one stand out. His holdings also include Mexican and fine jewelry, folk and fine art, textiles, baskets, and furniture.

A full online catalogue of the two day auction is available by visiting www.CordierAuction.com.

 

Dr Irwin Richman

Dr Irwin Richman

Large Majolica Blackamoor ($400-600)

Large Majolica Blackamoor
$400-600

After William Rush (Pennsylvania, 1756-1833) ($8,000-12,000)

After William Rush (PA, 1756-1833)
$8,000-12,000
 

C 1590 English Coffer ($600-800)

C 1590 English Coffer
$600-800
 

Continental and Italian Majolica ($100-1,000)

Continental and Italian Majolica
$100-1,000