NEW ORLEANS, LA.- An important oil on academy board painting by South Carolina artist William Aiken Walker (1838-1921), a French Belle Epoch Louis XV-style marble-top bombe chest, three outstanding pieces of English sterling silver, two highly collectible Newcomb College pottery pieces, a pair of early 20th century parcel gilt polychromed carved wood blackamoor torcheres, and a sculpture of a pheasant and lizard by Alfred Dubucand will all be sold June 7-8.
They are part of a massive two-day estates auction being held by
Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm’s gallery located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, beginning promptly at 9 a.m. (Central time) both days. For those unable to attend live, online bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted.
Nearly 1,300 lots will come up for bid, in the categories Crescent City Auction Gallery has become renowned for throughout the South: original artworks (much of it by noted regional artists), period American and European furniture, pottery pieces, sterling silver, estate jewelry, antique lamps and lighting, Mardi Gras collectibles, Asian items and fine decorative accessories.
“We are really excited about the June auction,” said Adam Lambert of Crescent City Auction Gallery. “There are very strong examples across all major categories, including art, French, English and American furniture, Southern pottery, Asian arts, silver and bric-a-brac.” Previews will be held from May 29-June 6, from 10-5 (but closed on Sunday) and on June 4th until 8 p.m.
The unsigned painting by William Aiken Walker (S.C., 1838-1921), is a slave rendering titled Woman With Bales of Cotton on the Docks. It is housed in a possibly original ornate period gilt and gesso frame (est. $2,500-$4,500). The 19th century sculpture titled Pheasant and Lizard by Alfred E. Dubucand (Fr., 1828-1894) is patinated bronze on a brass base (est. $4,000-$6,000).
The Newcomb College pottery pieces include a glazed art pottery circular trivet, made in 1909 with an unknown maker’s mark, and a matte glaze baluster vase made in 1924 by Henrietta Bailey, 8 ¼ inches tall. The pair of early 20th century carved wood blackamoor torcheres stand on faux marble stepped octagonal bases and are each 80 inches in height (est. $4,000-$6,000).
The French Louis XV-style ormolu mounted and marquetry inlaid rosewood marble-top bombe chest is in the style of Francois Linke (1855-1946) and is 35 ¼ inches tall by 35 ½ inches wide (est. $2,400-$3,600). Also, a French Empire-style figured mahogany marble-top commode, made in the 19th century and 37 ¾ inches tall by 50 ½ inches wide, should hammer for $900-$1,500.
The three pieces of English sterling silver consist of a diminutive footed punch bowl (London, 1899, by Charles Stuart Harris), a loving cup (London, 1899, by Daniel and John Welby), and an engraved presentation chalice (London, 1861 by Daniel and Charles Houle). Also sold will be an 88-piece set of sterling silver flatware by Gorham, in the Strasbourg pattern (est. $3,000-$5,000).
Two notable but very different artworks carry identical estimates of $1,500-$2,500. One is a signed oil on board by Colette Heldner (La., 1902-1990), titled Swamp Idyll, Louisiana Bayou Country (15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inches). The other is an early 19th century Continental School oil on canvas titled Allegorical Scene of Spring, depicting putti in a garden offering fruit to Venus.
Two clock lots also have the same pre-sale estimate of $900-$1,500. The first is an English inlaid mahogany tall case clock, made circa 1850 with time and strike by Th. Robson, Shildon, 90 inches tall. The second is a marble and gilt bronze mantel clock, circa 1870, with an urn surmount atop a highly figured ochre marble case. It is 19 ¼ inches tall by 9 ¼ inches wide.
One clock expected to attract keen bidder interest is a French gilt spelter and marble figural mantel clock, made in the 19th century by Japy Freres and featuring a blown glass dome on an ebonized base (est. $1,200-$1,800). Also sold will be 25 Mardi Gras bulletins, to include a 1907 parade bulletin (Comus), titled Tennyson, shrink-wrapped and lithographed by Walle & Co.
Returning to artwork, two lots to watch are a fine bronze sculpture of an elephant figure with ivory tusks, made circa 1900 on a sloping highly figured black marble base, 14 ¾ inches tall (est. $3,000-$5,000); and an early 20th century oil on board by Peter Lanz Hohnstedt (1872-1957, Texas/Louisiana), titled Court of the Two Sisters, 19 ½ inches by 15 ½ inches (est. $1,500-$2,500).
European furniture pieces will feature an unusual French provincial Louis XV-style marquetry inlaid carved oak armoire, made in the 19th century and standing 91 ¼ inches tall (est. $1,200-$1,400); and a French Louis XIV-style gilt ormolu mounted boulle inlaid ebonized marble-top cabinet, also made in the 19th century (and later), standing 43 ¾ inches tall (est. $3,500-$4,500).
Also from France is a late 19th century Brittany Louis XV-style carved oak armoire, made into a bookcase (est. $2,000-$4,000). American furniture will include a Victorian Renaissance Revival carved mahogany and burl walnut cylinder desk, circa 1870, 68 inches tall (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a late 19th century classical carved mahogany armoire, 92 inches tall (est. $3,000-$5,000).
A pair of 19th century porcelain baluster vases, with gilt grape and leaf decoration and central reserves of classical figures each on a deep blue background, each vase 16 ¾ inches tall, is expected to breeze to $1,200-$1,800. Fine estate jewelry pieces will feature dazzling diamonds, tanzanites, rubies, emeralds, pearls, Rolex watches and more, in a wide range of price points.
