ATLANTA, GA.- Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery is gearing up for its big annual Signature Estates Auction, a two-day affair planned for the weekend of January 6th and 7th, online and in the firm’s showroom at 715 Miami Circle (Suite 210) in Atlanta, beginning promptly at 10 am Eastern time both days. In all, a little more than 1,000 lots will be auctioned to the highest bidder.

Session 1, on Saturday, January 6th, will focus on American art, furniture, decorative arts, modern design and contemporary art. Session 2, the following day, will feature English and continental artworks, period antique furniture, antique lighting and textiles, an important collection of black and white photography and fine pieces of sterling silver, from prominent estates and collections.

Highlights from Session 1 include an original oil painting signed by John Folinsbee (Am., 1892-1972), titled River at New Hope, included as #698 in the artist’s catalogue raisonne; a watercolor work signed by Pakistani artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975), from the private collection of the artist’s son; and a superb Reed & Barton sterling silver tea service in the Francis I pattern.

The collection of black and white photographs will include signed works by such luminaries as Robert Mapplethorpe, Joel-Peter Wiltkin, John Coplans, Jimmy de Sana, George Platt Lynes and others. Also sold will be original signed works by William Tolliver, original works by the Iraqi modernist Saadi Abbas Babely and original collage works by Portuguese artist Juliao Sarmento.

Session 1 will also feature a scarce set of “Black Shoulder” hand-painted French china designed by Van Day Truex (Am., 1904-1979) for Tiffany & Co., with all 103 pieces in the private stock set inscribed by Tiffany on the base, along with Atelier Le Talec marks (est. $10,000-$15,000); and two large sets of sterling flatware by Tiffany & Company in the Chrysanthemum pattern.

The first day’s offerings will also include a pair of Cassina (Italian, founded 1927) for Louis Vuitton limited edition LC4 CP chaise lounges by Le Corbusier (Swiss-French, 1887-1965), Pierre Jeanneret (Swiss, 1896-1967) and Charlotte Perriand (French, 1903-1999), for Louis Vuitton’s 2014 Icones Collection, both with impressed marks to the base (est. $2,000-$4,000).

The artworks by Chughtai and Folinsbee are the auction’s expected top lots. The watercolor on paper by Chughtai, titled Poetic Expressions (circa 1940s), measures 24 ¼ inches by 19 ¼ inches and is unframed (est. $30,000-$50,000). The oil on canvas by Folinsbee was rendered in 1923 and is artist signed. It’s 31 ½ inches by 37 ½ inches, framed, and is accompanied by a letter from the artist, addressed to the painting’s original buyer, Hugh Richardson (est. $25,000-$35,000).

The six original works by William Tolliver (Am., 1951-2000) will include a late 20th century oil on canvas titled Abstract Woman, artist signed, 50 inches by 38 ¼ inches framed (est. $8,000-$12,000). Also sold will be an oil on canvas landscape with figures by Worthington Whittredge (Am., 1820-1910), titled Campers in the Blue Ridge Mountains, artist signed, 34 inches by 44 ¾ inches in the frame and with great provenance (est. $15,000-$25,000). It comes with a letter of authentication from Gudmund Vigtel, former Director of the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

Additional artworks in the auction will include an oil on canvas signed by Belgian artist Emile Deckers (1885-1968), titled Five Algerian Boys, signed, dated (1957) and inscribed (“Alger”) lower left (est. $10,000-$20,000). From the major photographs collection, a gelatin silver print by Robert Mapplethorpe (Am., 1946-1989), titled Patrice (1977), signed, dated and numbered (3/5) to the lower margin, 22 ¼ inches by 20 ½ inches in the frame, should hit $8,000-$12,000.

The nine-piece Reed & Barton sterling silver tea and coffee service in the Francis I pattern has an overall weight of 383.39 troy ounces and all pieces boast a gold wash interior and are hallmarked for Reed & Barton, with date codes (est. $20,000-$30,000). Also up for bid is a fully restored 1979 Mercedes Benz two-door 450SLC fixed head coupe, metallic Milan brown in color with a bamboo interior trim and 4.5-liter engine, with 94,000 original miles (est. $12,000-$18,000).

Session 2 will be highlighted by an 18kt yellow gold emerald and diamond necklace and pendant set; a bench-made replica of Chippendale’s violin cabinet; an early 18th century English William & Mary Japanned collector’s cabinet; and a fine tureen on stand by Copeland Spode, after the original Mecklenburg service that was commissioned for King George III and Queen Charlotte.

Also offered will be two significant works after Pietro Liberi’s Battle of the Fists (an engraving and a signed oil); and original signed works by Raoul Maucherat de Longpre, Fernand Toussaint, Quinquela Martin, Louis Vigee, Hendrik de Meijer, Harriet Frishmuth and Philip A. Immenraet.

For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and the Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery website, at bid.AandOauctions.com.

Preview will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 2-4, from 10-6; and on Friday, Jan. 5, from 10-2. A preview party will be held Thursday evening, Jan. 4, that will run from 6 pm until 9 pm.