GREENCASTLE, PA — Through January 19, 2019, Hurley Auctions will be holding a public online auction of rare antiques and Civil War items. Among the most prominent pieces is a Johannes Spitler paint decorated blanket chest which will surely garner intense interest from prominent dealers and collectors. Johannes Spitler (1774-1837) of Shenandoah Valley VA is well known for his rural artistry and stylization in folk art paint decorated furniture. He first made his home in a Mennonite community in Shenandoah County, VA. His work often included themes from a German-American culture and art, but there was also a mix of modern and traditional aesthetics. Many of his pieces are well documented and found mostly in major museums and institutions. Previous Spitler items include a paint decorated hanging cupboard that sold for $962,500 and other paint decorated blanket chests that sold for $288,000- and $365,500-.