FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 16, 2004

Neal Auction Company’s April 3rd and 4th Springs Estates Auction generated strong interest for fine antique furnishings, decorative objects, and art works, including Southern Regionalist artists. Over the weekend, a great crowd of local, national and international collectors and dealers filled Neal Co. galleries. Bidders by phone were at a record high. Continuing the expanded online, in real-time, bidding service, Neal Auction also captured further sales. The two days of bidding hammered about $2 million.

Neal Auction Company was pleased to feature select property from the Collection of Emily Cyr Bridges (1912-2003), Albania Plantation, Bayou Teche; the period contents of an Important Greek Revival Townhouse from the West Village in New York City; historic property sold for the benefit of the Ursuline Convent, New Orleans, property from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Q. Davis of New Orleans; and property from the Succession of Newcomb Art Student, Dorothy Lucille Mascaro.

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

European art results included: signed and framed works by Jules Rene Herve' (French, 1887-1981), (lot 47) “Rainy Day”, 15 in. x 18 in. sold for $5,400.00 and (lot 48) “Les Petits Amis”, 8 3/4 in. x 10 3/4 in., for $2,640.00. The signed “Hunt Scene with Stage” (lot 378) by George Karl Koch (German, 1857-1930), in a period frame, secured $13,800.00. Jose Aparico Inglada’s (Spanish, 1773-1838), “Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, (1784-1833) c. 1820” (lot 594), unsigned, unframed, realized $12,075.00. Jean Carolus’s (Belgian, 1814-1897), “The Letter” (lot 294), signed and dated “J. Carolus 1873” brought $16,10.00. English art included Charles West Cope, Jr., R.A.’s (British, 1811-1890), “The Setting Out of the Train Bands of London to Relieve Gloucester” (lot 379) fetching $6,900.00 and the large painting “Maharaja of Tagore” (lot 290), c. 1880, unsigned and framed, with a title plaque, realizing $29,900.00. It is likely this portrait was painted from a photograph by the British firm Johnston & Hoffman.

Southern American Regionalist art works and furniture stimulated great interest. William Henry Buck’s (American/New Orleans, 1840-1888) signed oil painting, “Black Men Fishing Along the Bayou” (lot 447), achieved $88,300.00, while the signed watercolor by Paul Sawyier (American/Kentucky, 1865-1917), “The Abandoned Sheer, Kentucky River, 11th Pool near Lock #12” (lot 427), labeled C.F. Brower & Company, Lexington, Kentucky, secured $20,700.00. John James Audubon’s (American, 1785-1851) “Portrait of Captain Gilbert Morris (1776-1847)” (lot 434), black chalk and pencil on paper, signed and dated “1821”, brought $46,000.00. “Rooster and Chickens in the Barn” (lot 417) by Achille Peretti (active New Orleans 1884-1923) sold for $10,350.00 and Alfred Heber Hutty’s (American/Charleston, 1877-1954), framed “Wash Day” (lot 418) for $85,000.00. An American Federal Walnut Inlaid Sugar Chest (lot 422), c. 1800-1815, from East Tennessee realized $17,250.00. From the Whitney Plantation and de-accessioned from a New Orleans house museum, a Louisiana Cherrywood Armoire (lot 431) from the early 19th c. secured $32,200.00.

Other Furniture included a Rare American Classical Mahogany Extension Dining Table (lot 391) bringing $12,650.00. A Late Federal Mahogany Bookcase and Secretaire (lot 93), c. 1815, went for $10,350.00, and a Pair of Regency Ebonized and Parcel Gilt Beechwood Armchairs (lot 133), c. 1810 fetched $11,212.50. Pieces from New York included a Late Classical Acanthus-Carved Mahogany Daybed (lot 131) from the mid-19th c. selling for $4,715.00, a very fine Carved Rosewood Etagere/Sideboard (lot 390), c. 1855, attributed to J. and J.W. Meeks, securing $41,400.00, and a Fine American Classical Mahogany Bookcase and Cabinet (lot 398), c. 1825 for $27,600.00. An American Rococo Carved Rosewood Etagere Cabinet (lot 441), from the mid-19th c. brought $8,050.00.

European furniture also did well. An Important Irish Regency Mahogany Sideboard (lot 304), c. 1815, sold for $21,850.00. Fine Empire-Style pieces included a Figured Mahogany Console Grande (lot 372) securing $10,062.50 and a French Mahogany Table (lot 297), mid-19th c., with Neo-classical bronze plaques signed Henning, achieving $17,250.00. A Fine Pair of Louis XVI-Style Dore' Bronze and Brescia d' Violette Marble Top Gueridons (lot 373) fetched $11,500.00. A William IV Mahogany Linen Press (lot 308), c. 1835, realized $5,700.00.

Works from a Local Collection of Estate Bronzes included a gilt bronze, “Roman Charioteer with Three Rearing Horses” (lot 33), by Angiolo Vanetti (Italian, 1881-1962), with cast signature, bringing $5,980.00 and the patinated bronze, “Hazin' in the Leaders” (lot 80), by Harry Andrew Jackson, A.N.A. (American, b. 1924) going for $5,060.00, with cast signature, dated “’59”, numbered “13” at the base, and with Kennedy Galleries label with cast no. “HJ 804.” Other bronze sculpture included (lot 284) Gustav Frederic Michel’s (French, 1851-1924), an Art Nouveau bronze with gold patina, with cast signature and Paris foundry stamp and number “416B” that fetched $6,900.00. From the Continental School, a large patinated bronze figural group depicting Achilles (lot 357), 19th c., with a frieze and cast of a Greek inscription, achieved $19,550.00.

Vases by Emile Galle’ attracted strong bidding. This included the following pieces signed “Galle” in cameo: a Rare Monumental Art Nouveau Cameo Glass Vase (lot 276), c. 1885-1900, of a flattened elongated baluster form, decorated with dragonflies, irises and water lilies, height 33 3/8 in., selling for $43,125.00; a Cameo Glass Vase (lot 282), c. 1900, with a slightly flattened baluster form and flared neck, decorated with a mountainous landscape, height 12 1/2 in. for $5,175.00; and a Monumental Cameo Glass Vase (lot 283), c. 1900, of trumpet form with a slightly flared rim, cut in a design of flowering phlox and foliage, height 21 1/2 in., bringing $9,200.00.

Newcomb College Art Pottery sold very well. A Vase (lot 520), 1930, decorated by Sadie Irvine in the "Moon and Moss" design with semi-matte glaze, marked with Newcomb cipher, decorator's mark, Jonathan Hunt's potter's mark, registration no. SO28, and shape number 132, height 13 in., realized $9,775.00. A High Glaze Vase (lot 534), 1903, of tapering form, decorated by Irene Borden Keep, marked with Newcomb cipher, decorator's mark, Joseph Meyer's potter's mark, registration no. “AA90”, height 8 1/2 in. secured $7,200.00.

The large collection of estate Decorative Objects stimulated buyers. A Fine Ruby Cut-to-Clear Glass Punch Bowl-on-Stand (lot 251), early 20th c., probably Val St. Lambert, brought $2,300.00, while an English Layered Glass Chalice-Shaped Vase (lot 261), c. 1885, cobalt cut-to-clear, and featuring a large medallion of a Raphael Madonna with Christ Child and St. John the Baptist, went for $2,645.00. A Lalique “Calypso” Frosted and Molded Glass Bowl (lot 254A), with engraved signature fetched $3,055.00. A Fine Set of Twelve "Sevres" Porcelain Cabinet Plates (lot 280), retailed by Wright, Tyndale & Van Roden, Philadelphia, sold for $8,050.00, with each titled en verso and fully marked, with portraits signed “Clairin.” A Fine Pair of Charles X Gilt and Patinated Bronze Four-Light Candelabra (lot 407), Paris, c. 1825, with the standard in the form of Nike, height 22 1/2 in. realized $8,337.50. A Fine Paris Porcelain and Biscuit Centerpiece (lot 408), early 19th c. secured $13,800.00. Other Old Paris Porcelain pieces include a Pair of Large Medici Form Urns (lot 409), c. 1825, fetching $10,350.00, and a Fine Pair of Reticulated Fruit Bowls (lot 412), c. 1835 for $3,200.00.

From The Ursuline Convent, c. 1824, Dauphine Street, an Antique Hand-Wrought Iron Cross with Cast Iron Finials (lot 460), late 18th/early 19th c., h. 82 1/2 in., achieved $23,000.00. The proceeds will be used to benefit the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor.

Neal Auction Company is pleased to announce an important On-Premises Auction on May 22nd and 23rd, 2004, of the entire contents of the entire contents of Albania Plantation, Jeanerette, Louisiana with the noted Collection of Emily Cyr Bridges (1912-2003). Neal Auction Company’s Late Spring Estates Auction will be held June 5th and 6th, 2004, at our galleries in New Orleans. If you have further questions, please contact Ms. Rae Jung Wilburn (800.467.5329).