ABERDEEN, Miss. – Original artworks by Andy Warhol and Marc Chagall – two of the most famous and highly sought after names in the world of fine art – will come up for bid on Saturday, August 8th, at a sale of the contents of one of Mississippi's most stately antebellum homes: Lauri Mundi, built in 1847. The auction will he held on-site, at 309 South Matubba Street in Aberdeen.

“Dr. Frank Nichols, the current owner of Lauri Mundi, has decided to sell his dream home, nestled in a beautiful 18-acre sanctuary in historic Aberdeen,” said Dwight Stevens of Stevens Auction Company, the Aberdeen-based firm conducting the sale. “Many pieces have been passed down through four owners over 167 years.” Lauri Mundi is for sale, but it it isn't in this auction.

The Warhol work is a synthetic polymer and silkscreen ink on canvas, purchased by the seller's grandmother, a serious art collector, from a Canadian art gallery in 1985 and descended in the family ever since. It is a stylized rendering of Warhol's friend and contemporary Coco Chanel, the French fashion designer and founder of the iconic Chanel brand. The rare, authentic and one-of-a-kind piece measures 15 inches by 17 ½ inches (sight) and has the original estate stamp from the artist's estate to the gallery label on the back. It is signed to the front and matted and framed.

The Chagall painting is an original lithograph in vivid pastels, depicting clowns or possible other whimsical figures against a bright green background, with other colorful embellishments. It is typical of Chagall's style, one that has earned him a place near the top of the list of artists who are supremely collectible. The piece is 13 inches by 14 inches (sight) and is in a gold gilt frame.

In addition to the items owned by Dr. Nichols, the auction will also feature select pieces from estates out of Morganza, La.; Jackson, Tenn.; and Tiptonville, Tenn., plus a large part of a major art collection from Dallas (featuring the Warhol and Chagall artworks). “This will be one of our landmark auctions in over 31 years in the auction business – well worth the drive,” Stevens said.

Offered will be hundreds of rare items, including antique furniture, grandfather clocks and other old clocks, hand-made Persian rugs, brilliant cut glass, hand-painted porcelains, 19th century lighting, sterling silver, china, breathtaking mantle mirrors, exquisite pier mirrors, half tester and full tester beds, rosewood wardrobes, fine decorative accessories, original works of art and more.

Items original to Lauri Mundi will include a 9-foot-tall by 10-foot wide mahogany Empire bookcase with eight doors; a gold gilt over-the-mantle mirror with carved Egyptian crown and sides, 7 feet tall; a gold gilt over-the-mantle mirror with carved shell crown and sides, also 7 feet tall; and a rosewood rococo washstand with original marble, circa 1850, attributed to P. Mallard.

Furniture by renowned 19th century American makers will feature a four-piece rosewood rococo parlor suite by J. & J.W. Meeks, in the Stanton Hall pattern; a John H. Belter rosewood sofa in the Rosalie With Grapes pattern, in good condition and with button tufted upholstery; and a rosewood rococo half commode with original marble top, circa 1850, attributed to P. Mallard.

Other furniture will feature a rosewood rococo one-door wardrobe with laminated crest, mirrored door and fitted interior; a mahogany rococo two-door wardrobe with heavy carving on the crown and mirrored doors, 104 inches tall; a circa 1815 flame mahogany marble-top sideboard, like one in the dining room at Mount Vernon; and a mahogany four-door linen press with three drawers.

Lamps and lighting will include a large and magnificent Waterford crystal 19th century cut glass 16-arm chandelier, 42 inches long by 32 inches wide; a dore bronze newel post lamp, signed Rousseau, with a cranberry art glass shade, 45 inches tall; a pair of French bronze figural cupid lamps with ruby red shades (still oil); an unusually tall cut glass lamp with a cut shade, 31 inches tall; and a period Victorian astral lamp with a bronze base, an excellent shade and eight prisms.

Beds certain to spark bidder interest will include an all-original rosewood half tester plantation bed with superb detail and carving, circa 1850, 9 feet 10 inches tall and 80 inches long; and a mahogany Empire full tester plantation bed with heavily carved headboard, 9 feet 8 inches tall. Also sold will be a fine rosewood pierce-carved arm chair with heads in the crown, circa 1880.

Lovely antique mirrors will feature a pair of gold gilt over-the-mantle mirrors, with magnificent carving on the crown and sides; a gold Victorian pier mirror with rounded marble base and an ornate crown; an oval gold gilt French mirror with beveled glass and hand-painted portraits on porcelain of Marie Antoinette and her Court; and a Federal mirror with gold eagle, circa 1870.

Decorative accessories will abound, with offerings such as an ornate pair of Old Paris vases with bisque figurines and birds representing great mythology, circa 1860; a monumental pair of Old Paris vases with great art scenes against a blue background; a Victorian epergne with amethyst glass and fluted baskets; and a pair of inlaid mahogany knife urns, Adams style, circa 1920.

Also sold on August 8th will be a figural sculpture of an angel, signed “Cupidon” by Moreau, 28 inches tall; a six-piece set of Grand Baroque silverware with serving pieces; a William Dunlap plantation print, framed, measuring 65 inches by 57 inches; an American Victorian table in the Aesthetic style, with hand-painted porcelain insert and bronze mounts; and many other itenms.

For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Individuals interested in bidding online must register at least 12 hours prior to the start of auction in order for their bid request to be approved. There will be two open house preview dates: on Sunday, August 2nd, from 1-5 p.m., and on Friday, August 7th, from 10-5 p.m.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. on auction day. The auction will start at 9 a.m. Central time. Photos of many of the items may be viewed on the website: www.stevensauction.com. For information not found online or in the brochure, call (662) 369-2200; or, e-mail stevensauction@bellsouth.net. Phone bids are welcome with advance arrangements. Refreshments will be served auction day.

Terms of payment are all major credit cards or pre-approved business or personal checks (with proper ID), or wire transfer. A 15 percent buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases, with an extra 2 percent processing fee for credit cards. A 7.0% sales tax will be charged, except for bidders with a valid state resale number. Phone bids are welcome, with advanced arrangements.

Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (662) 369-2200; or, you can e-mail them at stevensauction@bellsouth.net. To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and the upcoming August 8 on-site auction, visit www.stevensauction.com. Updates are posted often.

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