Andy Warhol “Dude,” American. Unknown maker, circa 1910. Carved and paint-decorated wood and metal with fabric clothing. H. 33 inches. Photography by Gavin Ashworth.

On Friday January 23, 2015, Allan Katz, a collector and dealer of period American folk art and Americana, debuted a new catalogue at the opening of the prestigious Winter Antiques Show in New York City. Brimming with beautifully photographed folk art objects and Americana, the catalogue offers a glimpse into Katz’s illustrious inventory. Please click HERE to view the catalogue. 

Highlights from the catalogue include “Dude” -- a carved and paint-decorated wood and metal figure with fabric clothing. Created around 1910, “Dude” was part of Andy Warhol’s extensive American folk art collection. The Pop artist began collecting in the 1950s and in 1977, New York City's American Folk Art Museum featured his collection in the exhibition Folk and Funk. After Warhol passed away suddenly in 1987, Sotheby’s offered over 10,000 items from Warhol’s vast collection. Katz acquired the “Dude” during the auction house’s ten-day sale, which went on to become one of the most important auctions of the decade. Katz’s catalogue includes a recently discovered photograph of a thirty-three-year-old Warhol standing behind a chair while one of his pre-Pop assistants, Ted Carey, cradles “Dude” in his arms. It is believed that Edward Wallowitch, who worked for Warhol as a photographer and would become one of his lovers, captured the image.

Important Rooster Weathervane, American. New England, circa 1800–1825. Carved and painted wood. H. 37½, W. 33¼, D. 4⅞ inches. Photography by Gavin Ashworth.

The catalogue also features a finely carved and painted wood weathervane created around 1800-1825 in New England. This exceptional example of weathervane art is one of a handful of survivors from the early nineteenth-century. Weathervanes from this period were fashioned by hand and were a testament to the artists’ sense of design and carving skills. This particular rooster weathervane is a true rarity for both its age and condition.

Another rare work featured in the catalogue is the banjo chair with tambourine footstool. Made in New England (possibly New Hampshire) around 1910, the artfully made pair is one of only a handful of known similar examples. Both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Colonial Williamsburg have a chair, while Colonial Williamsburg recently acquired the only other footstool in extistence. All of the known examples have slight color variations based on the placement of the various wood types used, including birch, maple, ebony, and tulip poplar.

A native New Yorker, Katz began collecting and dealing early American advertising in 1973. His passion and areas of interest quickly expanded to include American folk art and Americana and he added this material to his inventory in 1985. Thanks to his keen eye, extensive knowledge, and ardent love for the material, Katz is widely considered a leading authority in the fields of folk art and Americana.

Banjo Chair with Tambourine Footstool, American. New England, possibly New Hampshire, circa 1910. Various woods including birch, maple, ebony, and tulip poplar. Chair: H. 42, W. 15, D. 20 inches; Stool: H. 13½, Diam. 13 inches. Photography by Gavin Ashworth.

A well-respected figure in both the dealer and collector communities, Katz participates in major antique shows throughout the country, writes scholarly articles on the subjects of American folk art and Americana, and has served as a lecturer for various community organizations and art institutes in the Tri-State area, including the American Folk Art Museum. Katz has served as treasurer of the board of the Antique Dealers Association of America, as an active member of the Dealer Advisory committee for the American Antiques Show, and as a member of the Jean Lipman Fellows for the American Folk Art Museum. He has also served as an appraiser for the past several years on the PBS network broadcast Antiques Roadshow.

Katz and his wife, Penny, see clients by appointment at their home in Woodbridge, Connecticut.

To view Allan Katz Americana on InCollect, please click HERE. For more information, please call 203.393.9356, email @folkkatz@optonline.net, or visit www.allankatzamericana.com.