FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 9, 2004

Beating the heat of a summer in New Orleans, Neal Auction Company’s July 31st and August 1st Summer Estates Auction presented their best summer sale to date. Neal Auction Company’s offerings of fine antique furnishings, decorative objects, and art works, including Southern Regionalist artists, generated solid interest. During the weekend, a great crowd of local, national and international collectors and dealers filled Neal Co. galleries. The two days of bidding realized over $1.2 million dollars.

Neal Auction Company was pleased to feature select property from the Estate of Noted Nashville Hostess, Mrs. Rufus Fort, Jr., from the Collection of Oak Ridge Military Academy, North Carolina, from the Estate of Vieux Carre Historian Al Rose, from the Old Spanish Custom House on Bayou St. John, and rugs and textiles from the Personal Collection of Jacqueline Vance.

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

American Art produced strong prices, with photography excelling especially. Photography included (lot 478) Theodore “Fonville” Winas’s (American/Louisiana, 1911-1992) “Swamp Lunch”, a signed vintage silver gelatin print, dated “1931”, 20 x 16 in., unframed, that realized $24,150.00; and (lot 472) Ernest J. Bellocq’s (American/New Orleans, 1873-1949) "Untitled, c. 1912, Storyville Nude Seated at Crib Window", a silver gelatin print produced from the glass plate negative by Dan Leyrer in the early 1960’s, 11 x 14 in., unframed, the provenance: Al Rose from Larry Borenstein, that achieved $10,350.00. Other Southern Regionalist art work included (lot 462) “Court Activities (Rainbow Room)”, an unframed drypoint by Alfred Heber Hutty (American/Charleston, 1877-1954), 11 1/2 x 13 1/4 in., bringing $4,025.00; and (lot 432) “Louisian Bayou”, a signed oil wash on board by Alexander John Drysdale (American/New Orleans, 1870-1934), dated “1922”, sight 19 1/2 x 29 1/2 in., in a period frame, securing $4,600.00.

Strong European oil paintings included (lot 230) Hans Dahl’s (Norwegian, 1849-1937) signed “Summer in the Mountains”, 39 1/8 x 26 in., in a contemporary giltwood frame, realizing $17,825.00. “Two Views of the Bay of Naples” (lot 582), a pair of 19th c. Italian School paintings, each 17 x 23 1/2 in., one in period giltwood frame, fetched $5,175.00.


American Furniture stimulated strong bidding. A Carved Rosewood Armoire (lot 517), c. 1860-70, sold for $10,350.00 and a fine Renaissance Highly Carved Partner’s Desk (lot 523), c. 1870, attributed to R.J. Horner & Co., New York, for $8,050.00. A Rococo Carved Rosewood Tester Bed (lot 508), c. 1855, stamped “C. Lee”, fetched $13,800.00, while a Federal Mahogany Two-Part Dining Table (lot 554), c. 1810, Philadelphia, related to the workshops of Henry Connelly and Ephraim Haines, brought $6,037.00. A fantasy Skeleton Carved and Painted Armchair (lot 239), Ex-collection of Vincent Price, achieved $10,925.00.

European Furniture did well. George III pieces included (lot 219) a Burr Yewwood Rolling Moon Tall Case Clock, c. 1800, selling for $6,670.00 and (lot 224) a large Mahogany Sideboard, c. 1790, for $8,337.50. An Early Regency Mahogany and Ebony Sideboard (lot 235), c. 1795, secured $6,037.50. A Restauration Burled Walnut Bureau à Cylindre (lot 215), c. 1830, realized $3,680.00, while a pair of Antique Louis XV-Style Carved Walnut Fauteuils (lot 376), 19th c., fetched $3,525.00

A Cartier Art Deco-Style Platium and Diamond Brooch (lot 601) brought $8,625.00 from a Paris buyer.

A Fine Pair of Elkington Neo-Grec Sterling Silver and Vermeil Candelabra (lot 278) sold for $26,450.00. An American Tiffany & Co. Art Noveau Sterling Silver After-Dinner Coffee Service, c. 1890, (lot 277) achieved $4,312.50.

Porcelain generated fine prices such as a Meissen Porcelain Dinner Service (lot 38), late 19th c., for $5,520.00. An early 19th c. Derby Porcelain Three-Piece Garniture Set (lot 385) realized $6,670.00, and a Pair of Chinese Rose Medallion Porcelain Double Gourd Vases (lot 183), 19th c., brought $4,025.00.

A Pair of French or Italian “Grand Tour” Bronze-Patinated Antimony Urns (lot 62), c. 1860, fetched $4,887.50. A Tiffany & Co. Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock (lot 160), c. 1910, secured $3,450.00. A Large Cast Iron Sugar Kettle (lot 512), mid-late 19th c., Louisiana, realized $6,037.50.

Neal Auction Company’s annual Louisiana Purchase Auction will be held October 2nd and 3rd, 2004. If you have further questions, please contact Ms. Rae Jung Wilburn (800.467.5329).