Auction of Houmas House Plantation Contents Approaches $2 Million.
Rare Colonial Louisiana Furnishings Realize Record Prices
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2003

Contact: Neal Auction Company Contact: Denise A. Estopinal
Neal Alford, Sr. Vice-President The Estopinal Group
Katie Hovas, Vice President (504) 269-9233/(504) 495-2564
(504) 899-5329

New Orleans, La. – The Houmas House Plantation’s collection of rare early Louisiana antique and art objects were sold at record prices during a two day on-premises auction at the historic property on the Mississippi River near Burnside, Louisiana. The extraordinary furnishings, art and artifacts of the late antiquarian Dr. George B. Crozat attracted enthusiastic and competitive bidding.

According to Neal Auction Company Sr. Vice-President Neal Alford, Dr. Crozat’s collection is one of the very few of its kind in Louisiana and the entire southern region of the United States.

Alford said, “We were honored to handle this important collection. The collection realized a total price of $1.8 million. The material is very well-known and because of the rarity of the objects the sale piqued the interest of museums, art historians, antique dealers and private collectors, especially those from other River Road historic homes.”

Among the objects attracting attention from bidders were Dr. Crozat’s Louisiana armoires, a walnut cabriole leg table, a rare La Tourrette’s reference map, a glass fly catcher and others.

The following is a description of the top lots:

37. An Etched and Blown Glass Fly Catcher, mid-19th c., realized $9,775.00.

58. A Rare Map, La Tourrette’s “Reference Map of the State of Louisiana from the Original Surveys of the United States...” compiled and published by John La Tourrette, New Orleans, 1847, realized $37,375.00.

167. A Very Fine Louisiana Inlaid Figured Mahogany Armoire, late 18th/early 19th c., constructed with “butterfly” battens, realized $137,500.00.

173. A Very Rare Faux Bois Cypress and Pine Cabinet, c. 1830-50, Louisiana, backboards inscribed “Houmas Plantat(ion) This side up…with care…Preston.”, realized $55,200.00.

176. A Rare Cherrywood Corner Cabinet, early 19th c., realized $77,000.00.

355. Philibert Louis Debucourt (French, 1755-1832), after Hyacinthe Laclotte (French, 1765-1829), “Battle of New Orleans”, aquatint engraving with hand coloring, realized $13,800.

415. An American Walnut “Plantation” Desk, c. 1830, realized $28,750.00.

483. A Very Fine American Classical Mahogany Four Post Tester Bed, early 19th c., realized $51,750.00.

612. A Very Rare Louisiana Walnut Cabriole Leg Table, late 18th c., realized $54,625.00.

634. “Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte”, script for the 1965 film inscribed by Bette Davis, realized $6,785.00.

Neal Auction Company has achieved international recognition as the South's pre-eminent antique auction gallery. Record setting sales attract hundreds of buyers to the spacious gallery located in the heart of New Orleans' prestigious Uptown neighborhood. Neal Auction Company has a twenty year history of record prices for American furniture, paintings, Newcomb College pottery, silver and decorative arts. Neal Auction Company is the premiere auction venue for the sale of 18th through 20th century Southern paintings in the Southern region of the United States.

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