NEW ORLEANS, LA.- A “prostitute’s box” from Dodge City, Kansas dating to around 1900, a fine collection of 20th century Meissen figures, a handsome 19th century English George II-style inlaid carved walnut chest-on-chest, and a bronze sculpture by 19th century French artist Henri Emile Adrien Trodoux, titled Boxer Dog and a Rat, will all come up for bid June 4th and 5th.
They’re just a few of the expected star lots in a weekend estates auction planned by
Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm’s gallery at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Lots 1-650 will be sold on June 4th, starting at 9 am Central time, and lots 651-1,058 will come under the gavel June 5th, beginning at 10 am. Featured will be items from Southern and local estates.
A prostitute’s box was a carved wooden container that a lady of the evening might use to store her essentials. In this case, the lady was named Alice (her name is carved into the lid) and her box held a perfume bottle, a wood-handled brass derringer with mini-balls, an Art Nouveau match safe and powder flask, a sterling-handled dagger and a flask to hold liquor.
The box, with all the above-mentioned items and measuring 13 ¼ inches by 6 ¾ inches, should change hands for $2,000-$4,000. The English George II-style chest-on-chest is regal, at 69 ¼ inches tall by 42 inches wide; it’s expected to bring $1,000-$2,000. The Trodoux animalier sculpture is signed on the base and stands but four inches tall. It’s estimated at $700-$1,200.
The auction will be packed with original artwork (much of it by New Orleans and other regional artists); French, English and American period furniture pieces; antique French clocks; lamps and lighting; mirrors and early 20th century Mardi Gras collectibles. Jewelry will include diamonds, emeralds, tanzanites, sapphires, rubies, Tahitian pearls and stylish 14kt antique pocket watches.
Bidders perusing the jewelry might also want to consider the lovely French mother-of-pearl and brass inlaid and bound carved rosewood jewelry casket, made around 1880. The piece carries an estimate of $1,200-$1,800. Also offered will be a late 19th century French Empire style ormolu mounted mahogany Trumeau mirror, imposing at 100 inches tall. It should bring $1,200-$1,800.
Paintings by noted local artists will feature an oil on canvas by Jack R. Myers (La., 1930-1994), done in 1977 and titled Cotton Picking (est. $3,000-$5,000); a watercolor by New Orleans artist William Woodward (1859-1939), titled Feeding Ducks by the Pier, New England, signed, dated 1890 (est. $2,500-$4,500); and an oil on board by Alberta Kinsey (New Orleans, 1875-1952), titled Brulatour Courtyard, signed and beautifully presented in a gilt frame (est. $1,500-$2,500).
An oil on board, painted and signed by New Orleans artist Clarence Millett (1897-1959), titled St. Louis Cathedral from Chartres Street, framed and 10 inches by 8 inches, is expected to reach $4,000-$6,000. Also, a 20th century painting by another New Orleans artist, James L. Kendrick, titled Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, signed, 15 ½ inches by 19 ½ inches, should hit $1,000-$2,000.
Period French furniture will be offered in abundance. Pieces will include a Louis Philippe carved oak buffet a deux corps from around the mid-18th century, 103 inches tall (est. $1,200-$1,800); an early 19th century directoire Louis XV-style carved double-door Bordelaise armoire, 115 ¼ inches tall by 72 ½ inches wide (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a Belle Epoque (circa 1900) brass mounted parquetry inlaid mahogany bureau plat, 59 ½ inches in width (est. $1,500-$2,500).
Other French furniture will feature a Louis XV-style carved cherry sideboard from the mid-19th century, 62 ¾ inches in width (est. $800-$1,500); a pair of French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bookcases, circa 19th century, 71 ½ inches in height (est. $1,500-$2,500); a mid-19th century Louis XIII-style carved walnut double-door armoire, 89 inches tall (est. $900-$1,500); and a 19th century Louis Philippe carved mahogany marble-top commode (est. $600-$900).
From England will come an Edwardian George III-style carved mahogany tall case clock, circa early 19th century by Elliott (London), with a sun and moon phase brass Arabic numeral dial and impressive at 85 ¼ inches tall (est. $1,200-$1,800). A star lot of the American furniture category will be a carved oak curved glass curio cabinet from the late 19th century, with an arched winged mask carved crest above a curved glass door and convex glazed side panels (est. $500-$900).
This sale has several French clocks, to include a gilt bronze mounted three-piece Louis XVI-style green onyx clock set, circa 1880, with time and strike by Japy Freres (est. $800-$1,200); and an 18 ¼-inch tall French boulle inlaid ebonized portico clock from around the same time period, with a 20-inch tall square blown glass dome on an ebonized base (est. $200-$300).
Rounding out just some of the auction’s expected top achievers are a late 19th century French Empire-style ormolu mounted mahogany Trumeau mirror, late 19th century and impressive at 100 ½ inches tall (est. $1,200-$1,800); and a pair of parcel gilt polychromed carved wood blackamoor torcheres from the early part of the 20th century, 80 inches tall (est. $2,000-$4,000).
Internet bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, and Bidsquare.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted. Preview exhibitions will be held from Thursday, May 28th, thru Friday, June 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time (except on Sunday and Memorial Day, when the gallery is closed). A late evening preview will be held Wednesday, June 1st, lasting until 8 p.m.
