Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is proud to announce their second consecutive million dollar sale.  As with all LLAES, Ltd. catalogued auctions, this sale garnered an international audience and a packed house.  Over 1200 absentee and phone bids were executed on sale day, with an additional 800 bidders registered through Live Auctioneers.  More than 200 bidders energized the house with traditional floor bidding. 

This auction was held at LLAES, Ltd’s auction gallery in Hillsborough, North Carolina, which is currently being expanded by 5,500 square feet, bringing their overall square footage to 15,500 square feet.  This expansion will offer 2000 square feet of additional gallery space, a state of the art walk in wine cooler, and ample storage space for consignors.  Construction is expected to be complete by December of 2011.   

This landmark auction was led by the catalogue cover lot, a 19th century French Parcel Gilt & Gem Set Jewel Casket, which brought top honors selling for $69,000 (prices include the 15% buyers premium).  Despite strong international interest, this casket will remain in the United States.  Another top lot was a bronze by Janet Scudder (Am., 1869-1940) which breezed past its estimate to achieve $52,900. 

The remainder of the 700 lot Catalogue Auction saw strength and consistency from start to finish.  An outstanding Confederate and militaria collection opened the bidding on sale day.  A Confederate North Carolina Contract Forage Cap more than doubled its estimate, hammering for $14,375.  With fervent bidding between phone and floor bidders a rare Mendenhall, Jones & Gardner Confederate Rifle rose to $17,250.  Another top lot was a McElroy Confederate Foot Officer’s Sword, which sold for $10,350.

This sale offered an impressive collection of North Carolina and southern pottery, the quality of which was reflected by bidding activity on sale day.  An Alamance County Redware plate, circa 1880, North Carolina, which was a property deaccession from the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts to benefit their acquisitions fund, sailed past its estimate to achieve $13,225.  Other top sellers include a NC Slip Decorated Redware Plate which sold for $5,750 and a NC Slip Decorated Redware Pitcher which hammered for $4,370. 

American Furniture brought solid and strong bidding throughout the sale.  Top lots include a Southern Federal Inlaid Serpentine Sideboard which achieved $21,850 and an outstanding American Classical Secretary Bookcase which rose to $7,475.

Estate Jewelry was led by an Edwardian Platinum & Aquamarine Pendant, which blew past its estimate with heated bidding between phone bidders and brought $13,800.   Other lots of note include a 44-carat Amethyst, Turquoise, Diamond, and Pearl Choker, which brought $6,900 and a Platinum and Three Stone Diamond Ring which hammered for $6,612.50. 

Asian lots elicited much excitement from both floor and telephone bidders.  Two exciting lots to watch were a Carved Soapstone Buddha, which exploded to $17,825 and a Large Chinese Porcelain Jardiniere which rallied to $17,250 and left with a floor bidder.

Fine Arts offerings were diverse and of top quality.  Lots of note include an oil on canvas by Lendall Pitts (1875-1938) entitled, “Source of Romanche” which sold for $4,600; a woodcut on wove paper by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), “The Annunciation,” which hammered for $3,910; an etching by Adriaen van Ostade (Dutch, 1610-1685), “The Gossips,” which brought $2,300; a pencil signed screen print on paper by Andy Warhol (Am. 1928-1987) which brought $3,910; and an untitled Alexander Calder (Am. 1898-1976) which sold for $2,185.

The Decorative Category was led by the sale of an outstanding Ormolu & Cut Glass Chandelier, 19th century, which between phone and floor bidding rose to $8,050 and a Northwest Coast Polychrome Bentwood Box which soared past its estimate and brought $20,700.  Another lot of note was a Swedish Gilt Bronze Garniture Set, 19th century, which hammered for $4,600.

The Fine Wine session, which was held Friday, September 16th at 6PM, was energized by a magnum bottle of La Tache, vintage 2005, which hammered for $8,912.50.  Other top achievers include:  four bottles of Chateau Margaux, vintage 1985, which sold for $1,380 and two lots of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, vintage 1981 and 1985, which both sailed past their $300-$400 estimates to achieve $977.50 and $920 respectively.  The next Fine Wine Auction is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd at 5:30PM.  To discuss buying or selling fine wines contact Mark Solomon, Fine Wine Director, at mark@llauctions.com.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.’s Two Day Winter Catalogue Auction will be held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2011.  LLAES, Ltd. is always seeking quality consignments, whether it be an entire estate or a significant item. If you would like to discuss selling please call the gallery at 919-644-1243 or email at info@LLAuctions.com.  To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. please visit their website at www.LLAUCTIONS.com.