NEW ORLEANS, La. – An exceptional pair of 19th century gilt and patinated bronze and marble ewers (narrow-neck jugs with wide, bulbous bodies), a stunning Lalique clear and frosted crystal swan centerpiece on a mirrored plateau, and an oil on canvas painting by noted Ghanaian artist Ablade Glover (b. 1934) will all come up for bid April 16-17 at Crescent City Auction Gallery.

The two-day estates auction will be held in the firm’s gallery at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. More than 1,100 lots will come up for bid, starting at 9 a.m. Central time Saturday, and 10 a.m. Central time Sunday. Offered will be items to benefit Holmes Community College in Goodman, Miss.; plus merchandise from prominent local estates and collections in the region.

Categories will include period French furniture, original artwork (some of it by renowned New Orleans artists and other artists from the South), sterling silver, fine china, crystal, ceramics, antique clocks, lamps and lighting, garden statuary and estate jewelry, to include diamonds, rubies, tanzanites, sapphires, black diamonds, Cartier wristwatches, South Seas pearls and more.

The bronze and marble ewers, each standing 27 inches tall, are expected to bring $5,000-$8,000 as a single lot. The Lalique crystal swan centerpiece – titled Miroir Cygnes – was made in the 20th century after the 1945 original. The swans measure 9 ½ inches wide by 12 inches wide. The mirror is 32 ¾ inches wide and 22 ½ inches in diameter. The lot should sell for $3,000-$5,000.

The painting by Ablade Glover is a 1980 oil on canvas titled Worker’s Canteen. It is signed and dated and measures 29 inches by 39 ½ inches. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $6,000-$9,000. Glover is active and lives in Ghana (United Kingdom). He’s best known for abstract painting; he also teaches. His work has been widely exhibited throughout Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Artworks by New Orleans (or Louisiana) painters will include an oil on canvas by the renowned folk artist Clementine Hunter (1886-1988), titled Seated Woman With Bouquet of Flowers, monogrammed and 12 inches by 16 inches (est. $2,500-$4,500); and an early 20th century oil on canvas by Achille Peretti (1857-1923), titled Cow in the Barn, artist signed (est. $2,500-$4,500).

From Britain, a 19th century English School oil on canvas work titled Portrait of a Man With a Powdered Wig, should bring $1,000-$2,000; while an illegibly signed late 19th century oil on canvas titled After the Hunt is expected to make $800-$1,200. From France, a patinated bronze statue of Mercury by Raymond Sudre (Fr., 1870-1962), 38 inches tall, should hit $3,000-$5,000.

French period furniture will be both gorgeous and copious. Offerings will include an outstanding Louis XIV-style carved oak prie-dieu (19th century low-seated chair with a tall back, designed for prayer), 58 inches tall (est. $1,500-$2,500); and a fine Louis Philippe carved walnut marble-top commode from the 19th century, 38 ¾ inches tall by 45 ¾ inches wide (est. $1,200-$1,800).

Other French commodes will feature a French Empire ormolu mounted carved walnut marble-top commode from the 19th century, 36 inches tall by 49 ¾ inches wide that carries a pre-sale estimate of $1,200-$1,800; and a French Louis XV-style carved oak bombe commode, also crafted in the 19th century and 35 ¾ inches tall by 49 ¾ inches wide, expected to hit $650-$950.

Armoires from France will include a circa 1850 Louis Philippe inlaid cherry and burled walnut double-door armoire, majestic at 91 ½ inches tall and sensibly estimated at $1,200-$1,800; and an unusual 19th century Louis XV-style carved oak double-door armoire with two locks and even taller than the one just described, at 95 inches in height. It is expected to garner $1,000-$2,000.

An interesting selection of Steele Burden ceramic groups from the 20th century will come up for bid on Saturday, each with a pre-sale estimate of $800-$1,200. Garden statuary will feature a large pair of circa 1880 lead garden figures of recumbent greyhounds, probably English and measuring 20 inches tall by 12 inches wide. They’re ready to occupy a new owner’s garden and are estimated at $1,500-$2,500.

A bright star in the lamps and lighting category is a pair of 19th century French Louis XVI-style gilt bronze 4-light candelabra, 18 ¼ inches tall and 9 ½ inches in diameter, that are expected to bring $800-$1,200. And from antique clocks, a French gilt bronze figural mantel clock from the mid-19th century, 15 ½ inches tall by 10 ¾ inches wide, carries a modest estimate of $600-$900.

A 149-piece set of Royal Crown Derby bone china in the Red Aves pattern is expected to reach $4,000-$6,000. Also sold will be two pieces of Steuben crystal, designed by James Houston as part of his “Major Ornamental Series” – one a beehive featuring an 18kt gold queen bee and three worker bees (est. $1,500-$2,500), the other a crystal cupola with an 18kt yellow gold running horse weathervane (est. $1,000-$2,000) – both in original red leather presentation boxes.

The auction will feature a large selection of Russian Icons. A pair of late 19th century Russian icons – one of the Virgin of Kazan, Moscow, with a silver oklad, the other of Christ Pantocrator, also made in Moscow with a silver oklad – should fetch $2,000-$4,000 each. And a 4-piece sterling tea and coffee service, made circa 1900 by Mauser (#1737) and consisting of a tea kettle on a stand, a coffee pot, a creamer and a covered sugar, with an open sugar bowl by Woodside, with a silver-plated tray, should sell for $1,500-$2,500.

Internet bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted. Preview exhibitions will be held from Thursday, April 7th, thru Friday, April 15th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time (except on Sunday, when the gallery is closed). A late evening preview will be held Wednesday, April 13th, lasting until 8 p.m.

A full color catalog is up now, online at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. A printed catalog is also available on request. Crescent City Auction Gallery is accepting quality consignments for all of its future auctions. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them at (504) 529-5057; or, you can send them an e-mail: info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

For more information about Crescent City Auction Gallery and the April 16-17 two-day estates auction, please visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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