Two-Day Sale Yields $3.54 Million At Neal Auction Company

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

:On December 3 and 4, Neal Auction Company presented its greatly anticipated annual Louisiana Purchase Auction. Showcasing the American South, the Louisiana Purchase Auction offered fine antique furnishings, fine art and decorative objects that stimulated great interest. The two days of bidding resulted in auction sales totaling more than $3.54 million.

Furniture from the American South excelled a cherrywood and cypress armoire, circa 1785, achieved $49,938, while a rare Eighteenth Century Louisiana cypress armoire found in Natchitoches realized $41,125. A fine late Eighteenth Century Chippendale walnut tall chest found in Leesburg, Va., fetched $22,325. A Louisiana cherrywood and cypress table, circa 1800, found in Opelousas, brought $20,563; and a Southern late classical carved mahogany tester bedstead, circa 1820, realized $17,625.

Other American furniture also performed well. Herter Brothers, New York, lots included a rare inlaid and painted rosewood cabinet, circa 1870, selling for $80,750; a fine neo-Grecian rosewood and marquetry sofa, circa 1865, fetching $11,163; and a late Nineteenth Century Egyptian Revival carved rosewood armchair for $7,638. An important rococo carved and laminated rosewood center table, circa 1850, attributed to John Henry Belter, New York, achieved $78,000. A mid-Nineteenth Century Renaissance carved walnut figural hall stand, possibly Mitchell & Rammelsberg, Cincinnati, brought $19,388; while an important carved rosewood bedstead, mid-Nineteenth Century, realized $16,450.

Of the standout English pieces, an important late Victorian mahogany and marquetry corner wardrobe, circa 1880, labeled E. Shaw and Sons, Bradford, realized $17,625. Other English furniture included an antique highly carved mahogany tall case clock in the Chippendale taste, late Nineteenth Century, selling for $15,275 and a fine Edwardian paint decorated satinwood Carlton House desk, circa 1910, for $6,756

Fine art from the American South achieved exceptional results. Significant oil paintings include Andres Molinary's (American, 1847-1915) signed "Lake Shore," 1886, 171/2 by 30 inches, realizing $94,500. A couple of signed paintings by William Henry Buck, (1840-1888) were "The Wooden Bridge: Louisiana Bayou Landscape," an oil on canvas, 18 by 30 inches, bringing $102,750 and "Cows Grazing under the Live Oak, Louisiana Bayou," an 1884 oil on board, 6 by 121/2 inches, selling for $54,050, both in period frames.

Robert Grafton's (American, 1876-1936) signed oils, "St Louis Cathedral - New Orleans," 30 by 24 inches, fetched $76,350, and "Laundry Day in the Courtyard, French Quarter," 24 by 20 inches, in a period Art Nouveau frame, brought $47,000. "Scene on Bayou St John," a signed oil by August Norieri (American, 1860-1898), 22 by 30 inches, in a period frame, realized $49,938.

The two Joseph Rusling Meeker (American, 1827-1887) signed paintings were "Near Lake Maurepas," 1881, 16 1/4 by 22 1/4 inches, fetching $44,063, and "Louisiana Bayou," 1881, 13 3/4 by 22 inches, for $25,850.

A notable William Aiken Walker (American, 1838-1921) was "Cabin Scene with a Large Black Family," a signed oil on academy board, 9 by 12 inches, that brought $29,375. Works by Walter Inglis Anderson (American, 1903-1965) performed well, including "Portrait of James 'Mac' McConnell Anderson, Brother of the Artist," an oil on canvas, 26 by 19 inches, that brought $61,500 and "Four Blue Chickens," a watercolor on paper affixed to canvas, circa 1945-46, 60 3/4 by 19 inches, that sold for $41,125. Alice Ravenel Huger Smith's (American, 1876-1958) signed watercolor on board, "Snowy Egrets in Flight," 21 1/8 by 15 5/8 inches, realized $58,750.

Another fine American oil painting was "Louisiana Landscape," signed by Meyer Straus (American, 1831-1905), 1892, 22 by 36 inches, that achieved $75,250.

Strong prices were realized for books, prints, memorabilia, maps and documents. Two Audubon published books were offered: The Birds of America, 1856, 2nd ed, with 154 (of 155) lithograph plates after J.J. and J.W. Audubon (American, 1785-1851), Bowen, that sold for $50,525 and The Quadrupeds of North America, 1854-1856, Bowen, Nagel & Weingaertner, for $11,750.

Silver generated competitive bidding. An antique Gorham sterling silver racing trophy, 1874, fully marked, with a later presentation inscription, sold for $8,225. A coin silver cann, William Hackle, Baltimore, circa 1770, that was deaccessioned from The High Museum, Atlanta, achieved $6,580.

A group of three restored Shearwater art pottery plates totaled almost $11,000, with a plate with chicken decoration, circa 1940, bringing $3,819 and a plate with fish decoration, circa 1940, selling for $5,206.

The Newcomb College art pottery included a large and rare high glaze vase, 1903, decorated by Marie De Hoa LeBlanc and thrown by Joseph Meyer, realizing $22,325, and a rare high glaze tyg, circa 1900-1901, decorated by Amelie Roman and thrown by Joseph Meyer, fetching $22,325.

Decorative items included a fine palace- size Kashan carpet, circa 1925, 14 by 22 feet, 6 inches from a private Dallas estate that achieved $12,925 and an Aesthetic gilt bronze volute clock, circa 1875, by E.F. Caldwell & Co., New York, brought $23,500.

Prices reported include buyer's premium. Neal Auction Company's winter estates auction will be conducted February 18 and 19. For information, 800-467-5329 or www.nealauction.com.