Date: Fri 07-Aug-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

New-Orleans-Auction-Gallery

Full Text:

New Orleans Auction Has Star Quality

(W/4 CUTS)

By Rita Easton

NEW ORLEANS, LA. -- The furnishings of a large St Charles Avenue Greek Revival

home were the featured 150-lot consignment at a July 18 and 19 auction held by

New Orleans Auction Galleries, Inc.

That consignor bought only the best when he furnished," said Della Graham of

the gallery, "and it served him well because it brought top dollar."

A total of 1,500 lots crossed the block during the two days, bringing a gross

of $1.75 million. A star-studded audience included celebrities from coast to

coast bidding incognito, a Tony award winner, and a Hollywood "legend" in

addition to many dealers.

Fetching the top bids of the day, an oil on canvas by Eliot Candee Clark

(American, 1883-1980) made $18,500. The circa 1910 "Tonalist Lowland

Landscape," 40 by 30 inches was signed on the lower left. Tying with the

painting, a pair of Regencey carved beechwood fauteuils a la Reine, circa

1725, in antique figural gros-point upholstery, standing 42« inches high, also

reached $18,500. An identical pair of chairs brought $18,000.

A rare Georgian oval tortoise tea caddy, circa 1815, sold at $5,250; an

exceptional circa 1810 Coalport or Chamberlain Wooster Imari ironstone covered

vase, 25 inches high, with foo dog finial, reached $7,250; Anglo-Irish cut

glass candelabra circa 1810, having two arms on each, was purchased at $4,000;

a pair of Chinese Export vases, circa 1830, fetched $3,000; and a pair of

miniature Chinese Export candlesticks in the form of foo dogs brought $3,000.

An Italian specimen round inlaid marble table top, 36 inches in diameter,

reached $5,000; a pair of Napoleon IIi trompe l'oeil pilasters, 98 inches

high, was purchased at $3,600; a carved Italian garden bench, elaborately

carved and reticulated in the ancient Roman style circa 1895, 42 inches high,

garnered $9,250; a monumental pair of French carved beechwood columns, molded

as clustered colonnades in the Troubador style, circa 1835, 126‹ inches high,

fetched $6,500; and four polychromed and parcel gilt Cordoba leather panels,

circa 1730, 59 inches high, illustrated with urns, birds, and flora designs,

made $10,600.

Porcelain included an Old Paris reticulated centerpiece on a stand, signed

"Halley," 8« inches high and 11 inches in diameter, which realized $1,700; an

Old Paris square potpourri vase with cover, attributed to Jacob Petit, eight

inches high, which went at $1,500; and a set of 12 Old Paris botanical dessert

plates, signed John Mast, which achieved $3,800.

An example of Newcomb pottery decorated with cypress trees, standing 8Õ inches

high, reached $6,000; and a rare Jacob Petit Old Paris spillholder in the

shape of a monkey with a basket, 8Õ inches high, made $1,600. A rare pair of

Blind Earl sweetmeat bowls of Worcester porcelain fetched $3,200.

Six William and Mary carved walnut dining chairs, circa 1700 and later,

brought $9,250; an oil on panel by Thure Nikolaus Cederstrom (Swedish,

1843-1924), "The Appreciating Monk," achieved $3,500; a William Henry Buck

Louisiana landscape, estimated $7/10,000, dated 1877, brought $14,500; an

American mahogany Rococo Revival half testser bed achieved $13,500; a

Victorian silver plate epergne in the "Vintage" pattern realized $3,600; and a

large pair of Sevres porcelain garniture vases reached $4,800.

The next New Orleans auction is slated for September 25 to 27. Prices quoted

do not reflect a ten percent premium.