Everard Auctions Collection of John & Ginger Duncan
Savannah, GA & other Southern Estates
October 18-20
2436 Waters Ave
Savannah, GA
www.everard.com

SAVANNAH, GA. — Everard Auctions has announced highlights of its October 18 fall Southern estates auction to be followed on October 19-20 by a special sale of the John and Virginia Duncan collection of fine, folk and ethnographic art and antiques. Bidding options include absentee and live online, with gallery previewing available at specified times.

The October 18 fine art selection includes two works by famous female artists from the estate of Betty Melaver, Savannah. The first is a colorful untitled Texas landscape by Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986). The 1917 watercolor measures 8¾ by 12 inches and is listed as Item 196 in the artist’s catalogue raisonné, which also notes that the artwork is associated with O’Keeffe’s “Pink and Green Mountains” series ($100/150,000, with a $90,000 reserve).

The second featured artwork from the Melaver estate is Louise Nevelson’s (1899-1988) “Clouds IV,” a 1984 painted wood wall sculpture that measures 21½ by 20¼ inches. It was purchased from Pace Galleries in New York ($30/50,000, with a $25,000 reserve). Nevelson was an acclaimed sculptor who is known for her large-scale, wooden sculptures and outdoor installations, in particular her monochromatic, puzzle-like creations.

Decorative art highlights include a pair of German sterling silver jousting knights, 12 by 8 by 3½ inches ($3/5,000, with an $1,800 reserve); and a decorated wisteria-theme vase by Japanese cloisonne artist Namikawa Yasuyuki (1845-1927). A former samurai, Namikawa trained at the Kyoto Cloisonné Company before establishing his own business. The Meiji period (1868-1912) floral vase stands 7-5/8 inches tall ($6/8,000, with a $4,000 reserve).

An estate jewelry selection includes a pair of Raymond Yard platinum, diamond and emerald earrings ($2,5/3,500, with an $1,800 reserve).

The October 19-20 auction features the collections of retired author/history professor John Duncan and his wife Virginia Duncan, who have adorned their home, the historic Thomas-Levy House on Savannah’s Monterey Square, since 1975. The artworks and objects, which visually tell the story of Southeastern history and culture, reflect a pursuit begun by John in 1947. Later, Virginia joined him in his collecting odyssey, and together they established the Savannah business V and J Duncan Antique Maps, Prints and Books.

The couple amassed collections of antique maps, natural history prints, engravings, books, pottery, hand-carved folk art walking sticks, antique sweetgrass baskets, exotic curiosities, ethnographic art, American furniture and Southern fine art. All were displayed and loved, but now the Duncans, who view themselves as guardians of material culture, wish for their art holdings to be passed to the next generation of stewards.

Over the three-day auction series, 32 rare maps from the Sixteenth through Nineteenth Century will be sold, many coming from the Duncan collection. John’s passion for Southern history drove such purchases as a Peter Gordon (1697-1740) map of Savannah, 1734. Sized 21-5/8 by 28-5/8 inches, this rare map is the first known printed view of Savannah and illustrates Georgia Colony founder General James E. Oglethorpe’s original plan of the city. It is one of possibly five such maps held in private hands; 12 others reside in museums (100/150,000 a with a $75,000 opening bid).

Southern fine art highlights include a 1948 Leonora Quarterman (1911-1979) watercolor titled “Savannah City Market,” 18½ by 22 inches. Quarterman’s work has been displayed at the National Gallery (Washington) and MoMA; and in 1942 she had a solo show at the Smithsonian ($2/3,000 with a $1,000 reserve).

Classical furniture from the Duncan collection is exemplified by a mahogany dressing chest of drawers crafted circa 1828-29 and bearing the stencil of Rufus Pierce, a noted Nineteenth Century Boston and New York furniture maker ($2/4,000, with reserve of $1,000).

The October 18, 19 and 20, auction sessions will start at 10 am EST. Bid absentee or live online via Everard, LiveAuctioneers, Bidsquare or Invaluable. The public is invited to the preview reception October 11, 5 to 7 pm, at Everard Auctions’ gallery, with additional previewing available October 12-14, or by appointment.

Everard Auctions & Appraisals is at 2436 Waters Avenue. For information, 912-231-1376 or www.everard.com.

Over 1200 lots for preview/pre-bid starting September 29 at everard.com, liveauctioneers.com, invaluable.co, bidsquare.com
| 912-231-1376 | GAL #AU004095
www.Everard.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com.
Georgia O’Keeffe (NM/NY, 1887-1986), Untitled (Canyon, Texas Landscape), Watercolor, 1917, listed as item 196 in the catalogue raisonne, $100,000-150,000
Rare and Important Map of Savannah, Peter Gordon, 1734, $100,000-150,000
Classical Mahogany Dressing Chest, Stamped Rufus Pierce, Boston, c. 1828-29, $2,000-4,000