Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT :  BETTINE FIELD CARROLL
(504) 899-5329
estates@nealauction.com
 
NEAL AUCTION COMPANY’S POST KATRINA, NEW ORLEANS AUCTION EXCEEDS $1.8 MILLION
 
Neal Auction Company sets record price in southern paintings
Bidders attracted from around the world
 
March 14, 2006 --- Neal Auction Company’s March 4 and 5 Winter Estates Auction witnessed considerable international, national and local interest. Of the nearly 1,500 registered bidders, Neal’s saw international buyers from the UK, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, Canada and the Caribbean, 50 online purchasers and numerous telephone and absentee buyers. The two days of bidding realized a final sale total of $1,805,328.
 
Fine Art
Neal continues to dominate the global art market in sales of American Southern paintings as evidenced by their most recent auction, which achieved another world wide record sale in the category of Southern art. Lot 430, ELLIS WILSON’S (American/Kentucky 1899-1977) Four Sisters, achieved $37,600 against a presale estimate of $20,000-30,000, selling to an out-of-state telephone bidder. Other WILSON works also sold well, fetching $9,400 (lot 428), $23,500 (lot 429) and $6,462.50 (lot 433) respectively.

Lot 430 ELLIS WILSON Four Sisters $37,600.00

Neal Auction Company also continues to maintain the record in sales for works on paper by New Orleanian artist GEORGE LOUIS VIAVANT (1872-1925)March 4th’s sale saw two VIAVANT watercolors hit the block – lot 385 Nature Morte: A Green Wing Teal sold to an out-of-state telephone bidder for $37,600 and lot 386 Nature Morte: Bobwhite Quail sold for $10,575. (The record price for works by VIAVANT was achieved by Neal Auction Company last December in their annual Louisiana Purchase Auction where Nature Morte: Duck (lot 426) achieved $41,125.)

Other top-lots in the paintings category included lots 387 and 395, two CLARENCE MILLETS (American/Louisiana, 1897-1959) titled Old Oaks on the Teche, Village on the Creek and The Creek which sold for $19,975 and $28,200 respectively, the first selling on the phone to an out-of-state collector and the second selling to an absentee bidder.

Lot 395 CLARENCE MILLET The Creek $28,200.00

WILLIAM AIKEN WALKER’S (American/South Carolina 1839-1921) Male Cotton Picker with a Basket of Cotton (lot 384) exceeded expectation selling at $15,275 to a Northeastern telephone buyer.

Lot 435, Mobilis by IDA KOHLMEYER (American/New Orleans 1912-1997) achieved $18,800 against a presale estimate of $7,000-9,000, selling in the room to an out-of-state collector.

Lot 929, a circa 17th century Italian painting depicting Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ Child, sold for $14,087.50 against a presale estimate of $1,000-1,500 to an online purchaser.
 
WALTER HUNT’S (British 1861-1941) oil, lot 93, The Hunt by the Riverbank, sold to an online bidder for $11,025.
 
Lot 273, GORDON HOPE GRANT’S (American 1875-1962) oil titled Port of Gloucester realized $12,337.50 against an estimate of $4,000-6,000, selling on the phone to an out-of-state bidder.
 
Books, Manuscripts and Natural &  Historical Prints
Lot 365, a first edition, seven volume set titled The Birds of America, From Drawings Made in the United States and their Territories after JOHN JAMES AUDUBON dominated the day, selling for $49,350 to an out-of-state telephone bidder.

Lot 94, a set of Leather Bindings from The Easton Press sold in the room for $3,877.50, while lot 98, a first edition Dickens, sold to an absentee bidder for $1,140.
 
Silver and Decorations
In terms of Silver and Decorations, Neal’s clientele are never shy. Bidding was strong across the board. Top lots included lot 184, A Kirk Sterling Silver Dinner and Luncheon Flatware Service for Twenty-four, which sold in the room for $10,281.25 and lot 229, a 20th century Large BACCARAT Crystal “Bambous Tor” Forty-Six Light Chandelier, which realized $38,775 on the telephone. (The other notable BACCARAT in the sale, lot 188, a 19th century Fine, Large Pair of Antique Candelabra sold for $5,875.) Lot 624, a Fine Persian Serapi Carpet, also did very well, fetching $11,456.25 to a New York telephone bidder. Also of interest to note was a Pair of Antique Iron Gates, lot 601, which went well above their high estimate, achieving $9,106.25 on the telephone.

Furniture
Furniture’s top selling lot this sale was lot 280, a mid 19th century American Rococo Laminated Rosewood Parlor Suite attributed to J & J.W. Meeks, which sold for $38,187.50 to an out-of-state absentee bidder. Other top-lots included a 19th century George III-Style Mahogany Breakfront Bookcase (lot 212) which sold for $11,162.50 to a salesroom buyer; a 19th century Victorian Tall Case Clock (lot 487) which sold for $10,281.25 to a Texas phone bidder; a 19th century English Chinoiserie Commode (lot 516) which ended at $6,168.75 within the room; a Louis XVI-Style “Sevres” Porcelain and Gilt Bronze-Mounted Center Table (lot 519) which sold for $11,750 to a California phone bidder; lot 520, a Louis XV-Style Kingwood and Gilt Bronze Mounted Writing Table reached $8,518.75 within the salesroom; an 18th century Louis XV Walnut Buffet à Deux Corps (lot 524) which sold to a telephone bidder for $11,162.50; lot 635, a Fine Rococo Revival Rosewood and Marble Top Sideboard which realized $9,987.50 on the telephone; and finally, lot 813, an American Renaissance Inlaid Walnut and Burl Walnut Cabinet, which sold to an out-of-state phone bidder for $8,812.50 against a presale estimate of $3,000-5,000.

Lot 280 (One of set) American Rococo Laminated Rosewood Parlor Suite $38,187.50

* Estimates do not include the buyer’s premium.