NEW ORLEANS, LA.- A two-day estates auction featuring original paintings by the iconic folk artist Clementine Hunter, a hand-colored engraving from the John James Audubon book Birds of America, a pair of Meissen porcelain figural compotes, a 19th century fine carved mahogany full tester bed, and a French ebonized brass inlaid rosewood cave a liqueur will be held Jan. 17-18.
The auction will be conducted by
Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm's gallery located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, starting at 9 a.m. Central time on Saturday, Jan. 17, and 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18. For those unable to attend live, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.
Headlining the event will be items from a Tennessee antiquarian, plus select merchandise from numerous Southern estates. “This sale will be a great way to start off the new year,” said Adam Lambert of Crescent City Auction Gallery. A full color catalog can be viewed now, on the company's website: www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. In all, 1,230 lots will come up for bid.
The legendary Louisiana folk painter Clementine Hunter (1886-1988) is often referred to as “the black Grandma Moses.” Her bold and colorful images of Southern plantation life are coveted by collectors. Four of her paintings will come up for bid on auction day, all of them oils on board: Brushing Her Hair (circa 1975), Red Bird on a Branch and two titled Zinnias (one circa 1980).
The American classical style carved mahogany full tester bed, made in the South sometime in the 19th century, is impressive and stately, at 112 inches tall by 60 inches wide by 82 inches deep. Also sold will be an American Southern classical style carved flame mahogany double door armoire, also circa 19th century.
The hand-colored engraving titled Great White Heron from the book Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851), was executed by Robert Havell and is watermarked “J. Whatman 1836” from the elephant folio. Unframed, the engraving is 25 ¼ inches tall by 39 ½ inches wide. It is engraving No. 57-Plate CCLXXXI. Such engravings are considered highly collectible.
There are not one but two French caves a liqueur (highly decorative boxes containing decanters and glasses meant for alcoholic beverages) in the auction. One, circa 1870, is fitted for 16 gilt decorated paneled liqueur glasses and four matching decanters. The other is an ormolu mounted ebonized rosewood red boulle model, also from the 19th century.
The impressive pair of Meissen porcelain figural compotes (circa 19th century) are on winged putto supports on applied floral scrolled bases, with gilt highlights. Both compotes are 22 ½ inches tall. The sale will also feature sterling silver (including early 20th century presentation pieces) and jewelry items (including diamonds, rubies, emeralds, tanzanites, opals and pearls.
Lots from France will be offered in abundance. These will include a circa 1890 three-piece gilt and patinated spelter and green onyx figural clock set, time and strike, with a figure of “Paix” by J. Germain, plus a matching pair of urn form candlestick garnitures; and a Belle Epoque style gilt bronze six-light chandelier made in the 20th century, 29 inches tall by 24 ½ inches in diameter.
Period French furniture will also come up for bid frequently throughout the sale. Featured will be a French Empire Louis XV style carved walnut marble-top commode, circa 1870; a 19th century French Empire style ormolu mounted carved walnut marble-top commode; and a French Louis XV style ormolu mounted parquetry inlaid marble-top bombe commode made circa 19th century.
Armoires from France will feature a 19th century Empire style ormolu mounted carved cherry armoire; a mid-19th century Louis XV style carved cherry double door armoire; and a huge Louis XVI style carved walnut double door armoire. Also sold will be an early 20th century Chinese carved hardwood etagere parlor cabinet with elaborate overlaid bone floral and bird decoration.
One painting expected to generate bidder interest is an 1823 oil on canvas by French artist Jean Joseph Vaudechamp (1790-1866) who was active in New Orleans from 1831 to 1839. The work, titled Portrait of a Man and a Woman, Presumably Baroness Louise Deconchy Receiving Word of Her Husband’s Death in Battle, is signed and presented in a period giltwood and gesso frame.
An oil wash painting by the renowned Georgia-born New Orleans artist Alexander J. Drysdale (1870-1934), titled Moss Draped Oaks (1917), pencil signed and dated, is one of two works by Drysdale in the auction. Also sold will be a signed watercolor painting by Robert M. Rucker (La., 1932-2001), titled Buck and Hunter in the Woods. It is 28 inches tall by 9 inches in width.
A watercolor work by Will Henry Stevens (La./Ind., 1881-1949), best known for his modernist views of Louisiana lowlands and deltas, titled Hilly Lake Landscape, 9 ½ inches by 11 ½ inches, will cross the block. Also sold will be an unsigned oil on Masonite painting by Clarence Millet (La., 1897-1959), titled The Turpentine Still. Millet was regarded for his simplistic realist style.
Lots 1-750 will be sold on Saturday, Jan. 17th, and lots 751-1,230 will come up for bid on Sunday, Jan. 18th. Exhibition previews will start on Thursday, Jan. 8th, and continue up to Friday, Jan. 16th, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day (except on Sunday, when the gallery is closed). There will also be a late evening preview held on Wednesday, Jan. 14th, lasting until 8 p.m.
Crescent City Auction Gallery, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (504) 529-5057; or, you can e-mail them at info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com. A catalog for the Jan. 17-18 auction is available on request.
