NEW ORLEANS, La. – A Russian icon of the Virgin Akhtirskaya made in Moscow between 1896 and 1908, a rare oil on window shade painting rendered circa 1950 by the renowned folk artist Clementine Hunter, and an early 19th century French Louis XV-style gilt bronze three-piece clock set are expected top lots in Crescent City Auction Gallery’s upcoming Sept. 22-23 auction.

This auction marks Crescent City’s 10th year in business and will be held online as well as in the firm’s gallery located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, starting at 10 am Central time both days. The sale will feature hand-selected fine art and antiques, to include property from Oak Alley Plantation; a Gulf Breeze, Florida estate; and the estate of Dr. Ball of Jackson, Mississippi.

With a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$60,000, the Russian icon is a strong candidate for top lot of the auction. Made by the Russian artisan Ivan Khlebnikov and measuring 40 inches tall by 27 inches wide, the oklad weighs 11 pounds. Another Russian icon in the sale – of Saint Nicholas (St. Petersburg, circa 1855), 14 inches by 12 ¼ inches, is expected to sell for $15,000-$25,000. In all, CCAG will offer over 20 icons on Saturday, September 22nd.

Clementine Hunter (Am., 1887-1988) is a folk art icon who is often called the black Grandma Moses, since both artists lived to be 100 years old. Her painting in the sale, Saturday Night at the Honky Tonk, is signed lower right and measures 34 ½ inches by 37 ½ inches. It was exhibited Zigler Art Museum, Jennings, LA: "Exploring Clementine," March 2010 and carries an estimate of $30,000-$50,000.

The Louis XV-style French three-piece clock set is exceptional and comprises a clock and two candelabra. The set is expected to bring $7,000-$12,000. Also up for bid will be French and American period furniture, estate jewelry and watches, French clocks, lamps and lighting, sterling silver, and original paintings, many of them by New Orleans and other regional artists.

The 10th anniversary auction features a merchandise mix that will include a massive and scarce pair of 20th century Chinese cloisonné cranes, 96 inches tall (est. $10,000-$20,000); Newcomb Pottery cases by Henrietta Bailey and Sadie Irvine; and two shotguns, one an 1895 Winchester lever action model 95 and the other a William Powell percussion cap 20 bore shotgun, 1815-1845.

The estate jewelry features an 18kt yellow gold diamond and enamel strawberry brooch; ladies’ 14kt gold wristwatches; a Tiffany & Company 18kt yellow gold and diamond leaf brooch designed by Angela Cummings; and a Tiffany & Company 18kt yellow gold link bracelet.

The men’s wristwatches include a Rolex model 1601 stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch; an Omega stainless steel Seamaster professional chronometer; and not one but two Omega Seamaster Professional 300 M ‘Bond’ stainless steel automatic wristwatches.

Original artwork by New Orleans painters will feature an oil on canvas by Simon Gunning (b. 1956), titled French Quarter Scene with Buggy, signed lower right and 48 inches by 36 inches (est. $4,000-$8,000); and an oil on paper by Henry Casselli (b. 1946), titled Portraits of Durphy, signed upper right by Casselli and measuring 19 inches by 28 ½ inches (est. $3,000-$5,000).

An oil on wood panel by Louisiana artist Hunt Slonem (b. 1951), titled Metallic Bunnies, signed and dated verso and measuring 27 ½ inches by 19 ½ inches, has an estimate of $4,000-$8,000. Also, a patinated bronze and bone figure by the German sculptor Otto Hoffmann (1885-1915), titled Pierrot Dancer, 13 ½ inches tall, signed on the rear of the base, should hit $6,000-$9,000.

Additional New Orleans and regional artists in the sale include such notables as Alexander J. Drysdale, Rhoda Brady Stokes, H. Alvin Sharpe, Colette Pope Heldner, Knute Heldner and others. In addition to the Clementine Hunter painting already described, there are other works by the artist in the auction: including a post-1980 oil on canvas titled Traveling by Mule (est. $3,000-$5,000).

French furniture pieces will feature a Louis XV-style walnut bowfront commode (circa 1770); a Louis XV-style carved walnut arbalete (double-curved shape) bombe commode (circa 1750); an 18th century French provincial carved walnut blutoir sideboard; and a 19th century Louis XV-style inlaid cherry vaisselier.

American furniture will be led by a Southern Louisiana Creole carved walnut armoire from the 18th century (and later), pulled from a local Faubourg Marigny estate and believed to be one of the original homes built by Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville in the early 19th century (est. $5,000-$8,000); and a highly carved oak Jacobean sideboard, crafted circa 1890 and attributed to R.J. Horner (N.Y.), 85 inches in height by 77 inches in width (est. $1,800-$2,500).

Fans of sterling silver will be impressed with the extraordinary late 19th century sterling punch bowl by Whiting (#2958), able to hold 20 pints, just over 15 inches in diameter and weighing a stout 129 troy ounces (est. $4,000-$8,000); and the set of a dozen sterling goblets from the early 20th century by Frank W. Smith (#G59), weighing a combined 51.5 troy ounces (est. $1,000-$2,000).

A few more notable lots include a rare Robert E. Lee autographed carte de visite from 1866, by Vannerson and Jones in Richmond, Va. (est. $3,000-$5,000); a lithographed map with written notations from 1860 by William H. Williams (1817-1886), titled Plan of the City of Jefferson (Jefferson Parish, then New Orleans), one of four known to exist; and a French Empire-style gilt bronze and crystal 5-light Corebeille chandelier, 20th century, 27 inches tall (est. $1,500-$2,500).

For those unable to attend in person, online bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com. Previews will be held Thursday, Sept. 13th, thru Friday, Sept. 21st (except on Sunday, when the gallery is closed), from 10-5 (Central). A late evening preview will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19th, until 7 pm. Absentee and phone bids will be taken until Sept. 21st at 1 pm.

A printed catalog is available on request. Crescent City Auction Gallery is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (504) 529-5057; or, you can send an e-mail inquiry to info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

For more information about Crescent City Auction Gallery and the September 22nd-23rd 10th anniversary September auction, visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates posted often.

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