NEW ORLEANS, La. – Two oil on board paintings by Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter, two Newcomb College matte glaze baluster vases, a pair of huge American Renaissance Revival gold leaf and gesso pier mirrors, a pair of large cut crystal and glass 12-light chandeliers, a 1911 Steinway ebonized baby grand piano and rare 19th century Russian icons will all be sold April 12th and 13th.

They are just part of a massive two-day estates auction being held by Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm’s gallery located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, beginning promptly at 9 a.m. (CST) both days. For those unable to attend, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

Nearly 1,400 lots will come up for bid, in the categories Crescent City Auction Gallery has become renowned for throughout the south: original artworks (much of it by noted regional artists), period American and European furniture, pottery pieces, sterling silver, estate jewelry, antique lamps and lighting, Mardi Gras collectibles, Asian items and fine decorative accessories.

Works by Clementine Hunter (1887-1988) are must-haves for serious collectors of American folk art, and this sale has two examples, both oils on board. One was executed around 1970 and is titled Chopping Cotton. It measures 15 ¼ inches by 19 ¼ inches and is artist signed. The other, also circa 1970, is titled Funeral Procession. It’s 11 ¾ inches by 15 ¾ inches and is artist signed.

Two Newcomb College matte glaze baluster vases will come up for bid. The first, made in 1931, is of tapered form, with floral decorations. It stands 9 ¼ inches tall. The second was made in 1929 and is diminutive – just 2 ¼ inches tall. It boasts moss and oak decoration in colors of pink and grey.

About ten lots of rare and highly collectible Russian icons will come under the gavel. One of the lots is a multiple Deisis set of three icons from the 19th century. Each one depicts a religious figure: The Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. All are presented on curved wood panels with silvered and brass oklads. Each one measures 23 inches tall by 17 ½ inches wide.

The pair of monumental American Renasissance Revival gold leaf and gesso pier mirrors were made circa 1870, possibly by L. Uter of New Orleans. The mirrors, 157 ½ inches tall, sit over stepped shaded marble top pier tables that stand 15 ½ inches tall by 64 ½ inches wide. Also sold will be a late 19th century French Louis XVI style carved giltwood mirror in the baroque taste.

The scarce pair of cut crystal and glass 12-light chandeliers, made in the 20th century, are impressive at 58 inches in height and 37 inches in diameter. The Steinway ebonized baby grand piano is a 1911 Model M (serial #149791), on cabriole legs to scrolled toes. Estate jewelry pieces will feature antique gold bangle bracelets, contemporary diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls.

Returning to artwork, four pieces are worthy of mention, two by American artists and two by Europeans. The Mississippi folk artist William Tolliver (1951-2000) is represented by an oil on canvas titled Jazz Duo. Robert Rucker (1932-2001), the Louisiana landscape artist whose style combined realism and impressionism, is in the auction with a watercolor, Last Catch of the Day.

Arnold Turtle (1892-1954) was a British-born marine, landscape and still life painter who moved to the U.S. in his mid-20s. His signed watercolor titled Old Absinthe House (28 inches by 21 ¾ inches) will be offered. Not much is known about the Italian sculptor Ambrogio Colombo (1821-1855), but his bronze work titled Woman Riding a Goat is bound to attract keen bidder interest.

Moving on to furniture, lots to watch will include a Renaissance Revival carved walnut half tester bed, made circa 1880 and massive at 117 inches tall by 57 ½ inches wide by 78 inches deep. Also sold will be a French classical mahogany faux rosewood marble-top pedestal table, made in the 19th century and standing 29 inches tall and with a diameter of 38 ½ inches.

Additional furniture highlights will include a large French provincial Louis XV-style carved walnut double-door armoire, made in the mid-19th century and measuring 94 ½ inches tall by 65 inches wide by 23 inches deep; and a French provincial Louis XV-style parquetry inlaid carved cherry sideboard, also from the mid-19th century and measuring 43 inches tall by 60 inches wide.

Estate silver will include a French four-piece first standard (95 percent silver) tea and coffee service of amphora form, made in the 19th century and consisting of a coffee pot, teapot, creamer and covered sugar, for a total troy weight of 68.85 ounces; and a pair of Continental Louis XVI-style carved rhodonite (a manganese inosilicate) and silver compotes, from the early 19th century.

Also set to be sold April 12-13 will be a fine French boulle inlaid brass bound cave a liqueur (highly decorative lockable liqueur box), circa 1870, with eight gilt decorated decanters and 16 gilt decorated liqueur glasses. Mardi Gras collectibles will feature 23 bulletins, including one titled Flight of Fancy from 1909 (Comus); and two rare Rex ducal badges from 1897 and 1899.

The Saturday, April 12th session will offer lots 1-850 and include the Mardi Gras memorabilia, plus around 20 lots of 18th and 19th century Chinese furniture pieces. The Sunday, April 13th session will feature lots 851-1,382. Exhibition previews will begin on Thursday, April 3rd, and run through Friday, April 11th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except on Sunday, when the gallery is closed). There will be a late evening preview on Wednesday, April 9th, that will last until 8 p.m.

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 April 12-13 auction is available on request. All lots can now be seen online, at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

To learn more about Crescent City Auction Gallery and the upcoming April 12th and 13th auction, please log on to www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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