Everard – Online Winter Southern Estates and Collections
January 25th-February 13th and 14th, 10 am EST
Everard.com
2436 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404

SAVANNAH, GA. — Everard Auctions’ February 13-14 winter sale features an array of fine and decorative art from prominent Southeastern estates and collections. Main categories include Southern art, books and manuscripts; Middle Eastern art, jewelry and Asian art and furniture. Many high-end fine and decorative artworks come from the estates of a former GE international executive and a UBS Zurich executive, both from Hilton Head Island, S.C. Each of the gentlemen kept meticulous records and retained receipts documenting their years of collecting while living abroad.

A pair of Seventeenth Century Chinese yoke-back huanghuali side chairs will be offered ($10/15,000). The duo is part of a collection of huanghuali and blackwood furniture from the GE executive’s estate and is accompanied by an original 1989 receipt. Four Eighteenth Century Chinese K’ossu silk framed chair covers come from the same estate ($4/6,000).

From the UBS executive’s estate comes a monumental (55 by 64¾ inches) 1979 work by Lebanese artist Adel Saghir (1930-2020) titled “Heavenly Bounty,” one of two Saghirs in the auction ($8/12,000). Saghir studied at the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts and trained in the studio of Maryette Charlton at the American University of Beirut. He furthered his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich before settling permanently in the United States. Saghir’s paintings have been widely exhibited, and his work can be found in many museum and corporate collections. An Asian treasure from the same estate, a Seventeenth/Eighteenth Century Ming dynasty Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze Buddha is expected to reach $8/12,000. Its line of provenance includes ownership by R. Laquerod, Zurich, in 1934. The second Saghir oil on canvas, “Dance,” is signed and dated ’70 ($3/5,000).

Collectors of Savannah regional art never tire of the atmospheric paintings of Myrtle Jones (1913-2005), which typically depict scenes of everyday life in Savannah, including urban streetscapes, buildings, landscapes and portraits of locals. In this sale is her acrylic on canvas work “Savannah City Hall and Factors Walk” ($4/6,000).

Also of regional interest is a 1948 watercolor by American singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer (1909-1976). Mercer was born in Savannah, where his first job was sweeping floors at Leopold’s Ice Cream. He was educated in Virginia before moving to New York to establish his highly successful career. He wrote and composed music for Broadway and movies in addition to co-founding Capitol Records and serving as the first president of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. An inlet near Mercer’s hometown of Savannah was named “Moon River” as an homage to him and the classic song (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s) whose lyrics he wrote. The auction watercolor, titled “Woman Walking in the Rain,” carries an estimate of $800-$1,200.

A glass sculpture by Walter Furlan (Italian, b 1931), titled “Omaggio a Picasso,” is estimated at $5/7,000. Furlan is known for his colorful glass sculptures, many of which reimagine works by Pablo Picasso.

The books and manuscript section includes John James Audubon’s seven-volume octavo edition of The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories. Published in New York by V.G. Audubon in 1856, the volumes include all 500 hand-colored stone-lithograph plates ($10/15,000).

Collectors of sports memorabilia won’t want to miss out on a chance to acquire four official LA Lakers basketballs from the collection of the broker who handled the team’s insurance during the 1980s and ’90s. Two of the balls are signed by Lakers players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Billy Thompson, James Worthy, Kirt Rambis, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper and Mike Smrek. The four balls will be auctioned separately. Each of the two that are player-signed will open at $600 and have a $1/1,500 estimate.

The jewelry section is led by a 4.7-carat diamond and platinum solitaire ring, which is accompanied by a GIA diamond grading report ($25/40,000). Another selection is a diamond and platinum brooch designed as a circle pin with bow. It is estimated at $8/12,000.

The auction will start on both days at 10 am ET. Bid absentee or live online via Everard, LiveAuctioneers, Bidsquare or Invaluable. The public is invited to a February 6 preview reception from 5 to 7 pm at Everard’s gallery at 2436 Waters Avenue, with previews available February 7-9 or by appointment. For information, 912-231-1376 or www.everard.com.

Over 700 lots for preview/pre-bid starting January 25th on Everard.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, lnvaluable.com and Bidsquare.com
J. J. Audubon (1785-1851), Birds of America, 1856, 7 Vols., $10,000-15,000
Plan of the Siege of Savannah, 1779 Engraved for Stedman’s History of the American War, 1794, $1,500-2,500
Ray Ellis (SC/MA, 1921-2013), Rounding the Point, 2013, Oil on Linen, $6,000-8,000
912-231-1376