NEW ORLEANS, La. – The global demand for antiquities at auction has increased and New Orleans is no exception. Crescent City Auction Gallery, one of the top three auction companies in New Orleans, has opened a new sister facility directly across the street, at 1401 St. Charles Avenue (the main gallery is at 1330 St. Charles Ave.). The sister company is called Crescent City Auction Exchange (CCAE), and an inaugural sale is already planned for Saturday, November 22nd, at 10 a.m. Central time.

“Crescent City Auction Exchange is a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art gallery facility, one that will house four auctions annually,” said Adam Lambert, President of the “Crescent City” group of companies. “CCAE will cater to all levels of collectors and antiquarians alike, featuring all price points and a wide array of antiques, fine art, Persian rugs, estate jewelry, antique lighting, bric-a-brac and other items.”

Lambert added, “Some auction houses might call these ‘annex sales,’ but the new facility is in reality a secondary gallery to our main gallery. The quality of merchandise will be equivalent to what our client base has come to expect from Crescent City Auction Gallery, only now there will be even more bidding opportunities on even more great merchandise. This is a very exciting time for us.”

The Nov. 22nd grand opening sale will feature 670 lots, including property from the estate of Walker ‘Buddy’ Ronaldson. Highlights include two figural Continental School oil paintings, an early 20th century English cut glass tantalus set, a French Belle Epoque patinated brass 5-light chandelier, a Louis XVI-style silverplated brass and etched crystal center bowl, and a Louis XV-style bombe marquetry inlaid and ormolu mounted rosewood nightstand.

The Continental School paintings are both figural renderings bound to attract bidder interest. One is an unsigned 19th century oil on tin work titled Man Smoking a Pipe. It is diminutive, at 7 ¾ inches by 6 ¾ inches, framed. The other is a late 19th or early 20th century oil on board, done in the manner of Eugene Isabey (Fr., 1803-1886), titled Grandee’s Reception in Granada, Spain.

The English cut glass tantalus set (lockable case or stand holding decanters of alcoholic drinks) is housed in a handsome, carved wooden box, fitted with two decanters and 12 liqueurs. The box measures 10 ¼ inches tall by 10 ½ inches wide. The French Belle Epoque circa-1910 chandelier has a tapered support, issuing four scrolled arms to Art Deco-style pressed frosted glass shades.

The Louis XVI-style center bowl boasts a scalloped-cut and etched crystal bowl in a stand with relief shields and rams’ heads atop four hoof feet. The lot stands 9 inches tall; the bowl is 10 ¾ inches in diameter. The French Louis XV-style bombe nightstand is 20th century and is flanked by ormolu mounts, on cabriole legs to ormolu sabots. It is 29 inches tall and 13 ½ inches wide.

Also sold will be a large, gold-filled hunting case pocket watch from the early 20th century, made by the Aurora Watch Co., with engraved floral and deer decoration and 15 jewels. In the jewelry category, there will be a large selection of cultured pearls, including an opera-length (76 inches) strand of 7 mm white pearls.

The Nov. 22nd grand opening sale for Crescent City Auction Exchange will come on the heels of a major two-day auction event planned for Nov. 15-16 by Crescent City Auction Gallery. That sale will be packed with 1,357 lots of 18th and 19th century Russian icons, original artworks, antique clocks and timepieces, period furniture, Asian objects, estate jewelry, gold coins and other items.

Start times Nov. 15th-16th will be 9 a.m. Central time. Online bidding for both the Nov. 15th-16th and Nov. 22nd sales will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted, up until 1 p.m. on the day before auction. A 22 percent buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases (with a 3% discount given if paying by cash or check).

Crescent City Auction Gallery, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (504) 529-5057; or, you can e-mail them at info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com. A catalog for the Nov. 15-16 auction is available on request. All lots can now be viewed online, at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

To learn more about Crescent City Auction Gallery and its new sister facility, Crescent City Auction Exchange, and the upcoming November 15th-16th and Nov. 22nd auctions, please visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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