PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 25, 2005

Neal Auction Company’s April 16th and 17th Spring Estates Auction generated strong interest for Southern Regionalist artists, American and Continental paintings, fine antique furnishings, porcelain, silver and carpets. A crowd of local, national and international collectors and dealers filled Neal Auction Company galleries. Continuing the expanded online, in real-time, bidding service, Neal Auction also captured further sales. The two days of bidding realized about $1.62 million including buyer’s premium.

Neal Auction Company was pleased to feature select property from the collection of Rose Hill Plantation, Bluffton, South Carolina; and property from the High Museum of Art, sold to benefit the Decorative Arts and Paintings Acquisition Fund.

Southern American Regionalist artworks included Elizabeth O’Neill Verner (American/Charleston, 1889-1979), “Anna Lee: Flower Seller”, pastel on wood, sight 15 ½ in. x 11 ½ in., (lot 461) that realized $20,562.50, while another work by Elizabeth O'Neill Verner, "Man Liza: Flower Seller Smoking a Pipe", pastel on silk, sight 15 1/2 in. x 11 1/2 in., (lot 462) brought $19,975.00. George Louis Viavant (American/New Orleans, 1872-1925), "Nature Morte: Blue Winged Teal Duck", watercolor, sight 22 in. x 16 in., (lot 584) achieved $23,500.00 and George Louis Viavant’s "Three Mallard Ducks in Flight", oil on canvas, 20 in. x 15 in. (lot 582) secured $21,150.00. Sadie Agnes Estelle Irvine (American/New Orleans, 1887-1970, active Newcomb College, 1902-1952), "Mary Rosenblatt and her Younger Sister Ellen", watercolor, 13 1/2 in. x 9 in., (lot 501) fetched $11,750.00.

American paintings also attracted strong bidding. Charles Courtney Curran N.A. (American, 1861-1942), "Watching the Clouds", oil on canvas, c. 1913, 22 in x 18 in., (lot 552) rallied to $30,550.00, while Hugh Bolton Jones (American, 1848-1927), "The Stream", oil on canvas, 24 1/4 in. x 33 in., (lot 588) sold for $16,450.00. Frank Henry Shapleigh (American, 1842-1906), "Boat on the Shore", oil on artistboard, 7 1/2 in. x
12 1/2 in., (lot 554) secured $12,925.00.

Continental paintings and fine prints stimulated great interest including Anton Mauve (Dutch, 1838-1888), "Landscape with Shepherd", watercolor, 19 1/4 in. x 29 1/2 in., (lot 425) that fetched $22,912.50, while Edouard Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969), "Place St. Michel en Hiver", oil on canvas, 18 in. x 21 in., (lot 567) sold for $28,200.00. Hans Zatzka (Austrian, 1859-1945), "A Boudoir Scene, Through the Keyhole", oil on canvas, 18 3/4 in. x 12 1/2 in., (lot 183), brought $14,100.00, while a painting after Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520), "Madonna della Sedia", late 19th/early 20th c., oil on canvas, inscribed verso "Oreste Bicchi, copied Florence", 29 1/4 in. x 29 1/4 in., (lot 176) reached $9,106.25. An etching by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), "Nu assis entoure' d'Esquisses de Be'tes et d'Hommes", from "Le Chef d'Oeuvre Inconnu", (B. 91), 1927, 8 1/4 in. x 10 3/4 in. plate, 19 5/8 in. sheet, (lot 952) sold for $5,206.25.

American and Continental furniture did well throughout the auction. A pair of Philadelphia late Federal mahogany bowfront chests, early 19th c., (lot 327) sold for $22,325.00, while an American gothic carved walnut octagonal library table, c. 1850, New York, (lot 562) brought $17,625.00. An American Classical carved mahogany work table, c. 1830, Philadelphia, attributed to Anthony Quervelle, (lot 637) achieved $10,868.75, and an American Neo-Grec ebonized, inlaid and bronze-mounted gueridon, late 19th c., New York, mounts stamped Pottier and Stymus, (lot 529) sold for $5,581.25. A monumental Renaissance Revival carved oak china cabinet, mid-19th c., (lot 1110) reached $11,162.50. Continental furniture highlights included a Venetian verte and creme peinte bedroom suite, c. 1900, (lot 288) that sold for $17,625.00, and an Italian Baroque-style “fantasy” carved and gilt mahogany library table, late 19th c., (lot 668) that fetched $9,400.00. An antique Chinese inlaid padoukwood altar table (lot 304) achieved $10,868.75.

Porcelain captured buyers’ attention with items such as a Chinese export green Fitzhugh porcelain dinner service, late 18th c., (lot 343) which brought $9,400.00. An antique Imari porcelain corbeille, (lot 241) reached $2,160.00, and an extensive Paris porcelain dinner service, mid-19th c., (lot 84) sold for $3,055.00.

American and English silver also did well. An American coin silver repousse' coffee or tea service, by John Chandler More, New York, (lot 437) reached $6,756.25, while an American sterling silver flatware service, Tiffany & Co., “English King” pattern, (lot 135) brought $6,168.75. A monumental antique English silverplate figural centerpiece, (lot 162) sold for $5,581.25, and a pair of antique Sheffield wine coolers, Matthew Boulton, (lot 218) fetched $3,525.00.

Mirrors and carpets sparked great interest with such lots as a very fine Regency carved giltwood girandole mirror, c. 1820, (lot 660) that brought $21,150.00, and a rare labeled New York Classical giltwood pier mirror, early 19th c., Hosea and Dugliss Looking Glass Manufacturer, (lot 444) sold for $5,287.50. An antique Serapi carpet, 10 ft. 3 in. x 11 ft. 10 in., (lot 693) reached $10,222.50, while an antique Kirman Palace carpet, 19 ft. 2 in. x 13 ft. 5 in., (lot 845) achieved $9,800.00.

Lighting and garden items also did very well including a rare Gorham aesthetic movement mixed metals table lamp, c. 1883, (lot 496) that sold for $9,106.25, and a large Baccarat seven-light candelabrum, (lot 702) brought $3,525.00. A pair of monumental Louis XVI-style patinated iron gates, (lot 1010) fetched $16,450.00, while a large American cast iron plantation bell, 19th c., (lot 598) achieved $6,462.50.

Neal Auction Company is pleased to announce the June 11th and 12th late Spring Estates auction that will include property from the historic Norwood Mansion of New York City; as well as a collection of African art from the High Museum of Art, sold to benefit the Decorative Arts and Paintings Acquisition Fund. If you have any further questions, please contact Ms. Katherine Soloway (800.467.5329).