Rare Basket Auction October 19

MARGARETVILLE — A silent auction of hand-crafted baskets made by folk artist Karl Amor (1906-1992) will take place this Sunday, October 19 as part of the All Things Pumpkin event at the Middletown History Center, 778 Cemetery Road, Margaretville.

The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. Basket bidding will end at 3:45 p.m.

Those entering the bake-off are reminded to bring their pumpkin cookies or bread to the Center by 1:30 p.m.

Karl Amor baskets, woven from willow shoots, grapevines and spruce roots gathered by the artist along roadsides and streambanks, have long been highly sought after by local residents and folk-art collectors. This is a rare opportunity to bid on these one-of-a-kind baskets, donated to HSM by folklorist Mary Zwolinski. Proceeds will benefit HSM.

Raised on a farm in Estonia, Amor learned to make willow baskets from his mother. During WWII he and wife Elisabeth Jakobson (1908-87) and daughter Vivian fled the Russian occupation of Estonia into Germany. In 1949 the family came to the US, sponsored by the New Kingston Valley Presbyterian Church, and worked on the Nelson Gray, then Howard Ruff farms. Amor again took up basketmaking in retirement and gained notoriety for his craftsmanship and unusual designs.

An exhibit at the History Center on the life and work of Amor, and of metal folk artist Joseph Schoell, will remain on display for the October 19 event. A short film of Amor working at his craft will be shown on continuous loop.

Complementary pumpkin soup will be available, along with hot mulled cider.