PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- February 21, 2004

Making waves in 2005, Neal Auction Company’s February 18th, 19th and 20th Winter Estates Auction generated strong bidding for American Furniture, Continental and American Fine Art, American Glass and Silver. Over the weekend, a crowd of local, national and international collectors, dealers and institutions filled Neal Auction Company galleries. The auction sale of 1385 lots totaled over $2.9 million.

Neal Auction Company was pleased to present property from the Virginia Carroll Crawford Collection, the High Museum of Art, sold to benefit the Decorative Arts Acquisition Fund. Also featured was property deaccessioned from the Collection of Antiquaire Felix Herwig Kuntz, New Orleans, from the Estate of Mrs. William Burgess Eppler in Dallas, from the Collection of a Distinguished Gentilhomme of Acadiana, from the Collection of Mrs. A.J. Forstall, and property from the Collection of Coerte and Marjorie Voorhies, Bois des Chenes, Lafayette, Louisiana.

Sale Highlights from the Neal Auction Company’s Winter Estates Auction are as follows:

American 19th c. furniture from the High Museum stimulated buyers with sales including an American ebonized pedestal in the Egyptian taste that achieved $58,750.00, while a monumental American Gothic carved oak armchair reached $31,725.00. A Neo-Grec carved walnut cabinet, attr. to Daniel Pabst brought $17,625.00, and a labeled Thomas Godey Neo-Grec marquetry cabinet sold for $51,700.00. A pair of Belter laminated rosewood sidechairs secured $30,550.00, while a Bembe and Kimbel American carved oak "House of Representatives" armchair, c. 1857, brought $23,500.00. A George Hunzinger innovative armchair sold for $15,862.50.

Early American furniture throughout the sale attracted solid bidding. A rare American Chippendale carved mahogany and marble top sideboard table, c. 1760-1775, Eastern Virginia, sold for $124,750.00. An American Southern Federal inlaid cherrywood sideboard reached $102,750.00, while a Southern Cherrywood side table brought $23,500.00.

Native Louisiana furniture and Decorative Arts also did well. A Louisiana Federal painted cypress armoire brought $15,275.00, while a small Louisiana cypress table realized $4,465.00. A diminutive Louisiana cypress blanket chest achieved $8,225.00, and a Louisiana cypress blanket chest brought $14,100.00. A rare Louisiana cypress ironing board fetched $4,112.50, while an antique Acadian homespun blanket sold for $3,055.00.

Other American furniture of note includes a pair of Belter laminated rosewood meridiennes that fetched $22,325.00, and a labeled Limbert Co. Arts and Crafts oak china cabinet brought $5,581.25. An American Aesthetic carved and ebonized and inlaid parlour cabinet sold for $14,687.50, and a Meeks “Stanton Hall” laminated rosewood sofa sold for $12,043.75.

Continental Paintings produced strong bidding. Gerard Portielje (Belgian, 1856-1929)
, "The Soup Taster", 1881, achieved $58,750.00 while Frederick Richard Lee, R.A. (British, 1798-1879), "A Salmon Cruive on the River Awe, (Argyllshire, Scotland)", a good Royal Academy piece exhibited in 1864, brought $34,075.00. Edouard-Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969), "La Madeleine", sold for $41,125.00 and Henri-Joseph Harpignies (French, 1819-1916), "Le Bois de la Tremellerie a' Saint-Prive (Yonne)", realized $27,025.00. Alexandre Cabanel (French, 1823-1889), "The Storyteller", 1883, brought $19,975.00.

American Paintings and Prints generated fine prices including Clarence Millet, A.N.A. (American/New Orleans, 1895-1959), "Patio of the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant", c. 1945, rallied to $58,750.00, and Walter Inglis Anderson (American/Mississippi, 1903-1965), "Rooster and Chicks", realized $30,550.00. Chauncey Foster Ryder (American, 1868-1949), "The Old Road to Frameston", fetched $20,562.50, while Joseph Rusling Meeker (American, 1827-1889), "Louisiana Bayou", brought $26,437.50. Alexander John Drysdale (American/New Orleans, 1870-1934), "Louisiana Bayou", brought $11,515.00, while Marie Jeanne Amelie Roman, (American/Louisiana, 1893-1955, active Newcomb College 1895-1939), "French Market", sold for $4,700.00. After John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851), The Birds of America, portfolio facsimile of 1827-1838 edition brought $23,500.00.

Among an impressive selection of American silver, the stand out pieces were a Kirk sterling coffee and tea service that realized $16,450.00, and a monumental American Rococo sterling pitcher, also by Kirk, which brought $16,450.00. A pair of Gorham Martele' silver vases sold for $14,100.00, while a pair of Theodore B. Starr sterling candelabra reached $6,462.50.

Throughout the auction, Glass, Decorative Objects and Lighting did exceedingly well. A Meriden brilliant cut glass pitcher achieved $14,100.00, while a fine American Libbey brilliant cut glass pitcher brought $7,050.00. A good pair of Regency patinated bronze Argand lamps fetched $11,750.00, and a pair of Napoleon III bronze d'ore candelabra reached $14,100.00.

English and Continental furniture attracted considerable interest including A monumental Louis Philippe rosewood full tester bed, by Prosper-Guillaume Durand Fils, brought $23,500.00, while a fine pair of monumental Italian Neo-Classical mahogany and ebonized doric columns fetched $10,800.00. A fine Louis XVI-style inlaid kingwood and bronze-mounted commode, signed Paul Sormani, sold for $16,450.00, and a fine set of stamped Jennens and Bettridge papier mache nesting tables realized $4,993.75. A good Italian Pietra Dura marble table top, c. 1873, reached $8,575.00.

Sculpture and Garden Items generated strong interest as well. A General Andrew Jackson equestrian figure sold for $14,687.50, while Alfred Dubucand (French, 1828-1894), "Hunting in the Sahara", brought $14,100.00. A monumental American Rococo Fiske cast iron garden urn achieved $24,675.00.

Neal Auction Company’s Spring Estates Auction will be held April 16th & 17th, 2005. If you have any further questions, please contact Katherine Soloway (800-467-5329).