PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freeman's is extremely pleased to offer the collection of Virginia Knauer, featuring fine examples of the 18th century Philadelphia antiques that Mrs. Knauer and her husband began collecting in the early years of their marriage. As part of Freeman's bi-annual American, Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts auction on April 30, this collection presents an occasion for the public to understand a segment of Mrs. Knauer's personal life as a passionate, informed collector with a sharp, discerning eye for beauty and detail, along with a superb understanding of historical time and place. The furnishings for sale are accompanied by original bills of sale and catalogues. The sale will also include English furniture and Chinese export porcelain.
Mrs. Knauer's daughter, Valerie Knauer Burden, comments, "an avid collector and proud Pennsylvanian, my mother would be so pleased to have her collection showcased at America's oldest auction house. Over the years, she and my father purchased many antiques in these showrooms. It is an honor for my family to see her treasures returned to Philadelphia, a city she loved so much."
Born Virginia Harrington Wright in Philadelphia in 1915, Knauer once told The Washington Post in 1970, "I've been a feminist for 20 years and I'm all for advancing women in public office." Prior to the start of her distinguished career, Knauer married Wilhelm F. Knauer, an estate lawyer, in 1940 and had two children. She became involved in politics in 1952 while working on Dwight Eisenhower's presidential campaign. In 1959 she was the first Republican woman elected to Philadelphia's City Council as an at-large member, serving two terms, and then went on to head Pennsylvania's new Bureau for Consumer Protection prior to her appointment by Nixon to the Consumer Affairs post in 1969. Upon her passing late last year in Washington DC at 96, Knauer had received nine honorary doctorates and countless civic and industry awards (including the Gimbel Award and Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania awarded by the Governor) for her tireless work as a public servant on behalf of the American consumer.
While Knauer is nationally renowned for her impact as a public advocate, few know that her link to Philadelphia and her education and interest in art were particularly strong: her father was a Temple University professor; she graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls; she graduated with dual degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and prior to World War II received her MFA at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy.
Devoted philanthropists, Virginia and her husband, Bill, were very involved in the historic preservation of Society Hill. Together they restored the Man Full of Trouble Tavern, which they opened as a museum at 127 Spruce Street. Visitors to the museum were given the rare glimpse of her personal collections, including English Deftware, eighteenth-century Pennsylvania furniture and other decorative arts, from the period of 1759 when the tavern first opened its doors.
Freeman's is delighted to be a part of Mrs. Knauer's legacy with the upcoming auction of so many historical pieces owned by a woman who herself made history. Freeman's welcomes all interested collectors to attend the exhibition of American Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts, opening April 24. The exhibition and subsequent auction on April 30 auction will run concurrently with the annual 2012 Philadelphia Antiques Show, April 28-May 1 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
ABOUT FREEMAN'S
Founded in 1805, Samuel T. Freeman & Co has upheld an exemplary role as America's oldest auction house. Located on Chestnut Street, Freeman's offers over 30 auctions a year in categories including: American Furniture, Decorative & Folk Arts, English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Fine American & European Paintings & Sculpture, Modern and Contemporary Art, Rare Books, Oriental Rugs, Fine Jewelry & Watches. For more information, visit www.freemansauction.com or contact 267.414.1240.
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