Neal Auction Company’s Winter Estates Auction witnessed excellent results for furniture, lighting, decorative arts, fine art, historic maps and prints, silver, and Asian. The sale featured a number of notable collections, including the renowned “Service Collection” from the Estate of Grant A. Oakes, Warren, OH. “The Service Collection,” one of the most important single-owner collections of 19th century American furniture and lighting to come to auction in years, has been prominently featured in some of the most important publications on 19th century furniture and decorative arts. Two other major collections that greatly contributed to the success of the sale were the historic maps, prints and books from the Greenwood, Mississippi, Estate of Dr. Donald E. Pierce, and the stellar collection of art glass from New Orleans collector Dr. Roger Hatchette. An important part of the auction was also the sale of fine art from the Amarillo Museum of Art in Texas, and part II of the Mobile, Alabama, Estate of Aloyis Lee Sonneborn, the wife of the first President and CEO of McDonald’s.

TOP 20 LOTS

#1 ▪ Lot 157 ▪ American Rococo Center Table ▪ $86,637.00

The highlight of Neal Auction Company’s January 31-February 1, 2014 Winter Estates Auction was lot 157, a rare, American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood center table attributed to John Henry Belter. Made c. 1850-60, this table closely relates to the example Belter constructed for the Lincoln bedroom at the White House. The center table more than doubled its pre-sale low estimate of $25,000, selling for $86,637.00 to an American collector competing against a fierce bank of telephone bidders.

#2 ▪ Lot 152 ▪ American Rococo Parlor Suite ▪ $83,650.00

Lot 152, an important mid-19th century eight piece American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood parlor suite in the “Bird Pattern,” was one of the most expansive suites of its kind to ever be auctioned. Against a $50,000 to $75,000 estimate, the parlor suite, consisting of a pair of sofas, two armchairs and four side chairs, sold for $83,650.00 to a telephone buyer.

#3 ▪ Lot 848 ▪ American Rococo Center Table ▪ $60,945.00

Lot 848, another rare American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood table attributed to John Henry Belter, was acquired by a U.S. collector battling against a competitive telephone bank and the salesroom floor. Carrying a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000, the table attracted widespread attention from American furniture connoisseurs nationwide, selling for $60,945.00.

#4 ▪ Lot 583 ▪ Chinese Covered Jadeite Censer ▪ $57,360.00

Against a modest estimate of $5,000 to $7,000, lot 583, a beautifully carved late Qing Dynasty jadeite censer, achieved more than ten times its low estimate, selling for an impressive $57,360.00 to a New York buyer, who ousted ten other telephone bidders, the Internet and the salesroom floor.

Tied #5 ▪ Lots 847 and 183 ▪ American Rococo Center Tables ▪$54,970.00

Lots 847 and 183, two American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood tables attributed to John Henry Belter with exquisite carving and impeccable Grant Oakes provenance, each sold to the same telephone buyer for $54,970.00, against staunch competition from the telephone bank and the salesroom floor.

#6 ▪ Lot 336 ▪ Clarence Millet ▪ $53,680.00

Lot 336, a 1941 oil painting of the “The Bayou at Lafitte” by Clarence Millet (American/New Orleans, 1897-1959), attracted widespread attention from the salesroom and multiple phone bidders, selling to a local collector for $53,680.00, more than five times its low estimate. The painting not only exemplifies Millet’s light-filled, Impressionistic scenes of south Louisiana, but it also represents a unique moment in history as it was painted and exhibited under the auspice of the great Federal Art Project (FAP)— designed to bring art into the everyday lives of Americans while also providing work relief to artists.

#7 ▪ Lot 124 ▪ American Renaissance Bedroom Suite ▪ $52,580.00

Carrying an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000, lot 124, a stunning nine piece carved oak bedroom suite in the Henry II taste, sold for $52,580.00 to a phone bidder battling eight other telephone bidders and the salesroom floor.

#8 ▪ Lot 175 ▪ Rosewood Étagère ▪ $44,812.00

Lot 175, an important American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood étagère attributed to John Henry Belter, was purchased by a Texas phone bidder for a respectable $44,812.00 against competition from the salesroom floor.

#9 ▪ Lot 842 ▪ American Rococo Rosewood Étagère ▪ $41,480.00

Lot 842, another impressive American Rococo carved and laminated Belter étagère, also performed remarkably well. With an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000, the étagère sold for $41,800.00, amassing considerable attention from the salesroom floor that culminated in a bidding war between two Southern collectors.

#10 ▪ Lot 843 ▪ American Rococo Bedroom Suite in the Cincinnati-Style ▪ $32,265.00

Lot 843, a mid-19th century American Rococo carved rosewood bedroom suite in the Cincinnati style, achieved $32,265.00, selling to a New York bidder on the salesroom floor. The flamboyance of the Cincinnati-style pieces with their large scale and bold ornament attracted considerable interest.

#11 ▪ Lot 34 ▪ Édouard Cortès ▪ $25,620.00

Lot 34, “Place de la Madeleine,” a 1959 oil painting by Édouard Cortès (French, 1882-1969) from the Sonneborn Estate, garnered great enthusiasm across all bidding platforms, selling to a West Coast collector for $25,620.00 against a presale estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. The warm glow that radiates outward along the street cars and shops from a central vanishing point in “Place de la Madeleine” exemplifies Cortès’ mature painting style that draws upon the bustle of Paris to illuminate the architectural majesty of the city’s “Grand Boulevards.”

#12 ▪ Lot 237 ▪ Messenger and Sons’ Gilt Bronze Sinumbra Lamps ▪ $25,095.00

Lot 237, a stunning pair of late Regency gilt bronze figural lamps by Messenger and Sons cast as Nike— the winged Goddess of Victory, was equally victorious at auction, selling for $25,095.00, more than three times its low estimate to a Southern gentleman, who triumphed over the telephone bank and absentee bidders.

Tied #13 ▪ Lot 254 ▪ George Louis Viavant ▪ $23,900.00

Lot 254, a 1913 watercolor of a “Purple Gallinule” by George Louis Viavant (American/New Orleans, 1872-1925), sold for a respectable $23,900.00 to a local collector, who outbid two other phone bidders. Neal Auction Company continues to maintain the record auction price for George Louis Viavant with “Green-Winged Teal,” which sold on November 20, 2010 for $50,190.00.

Tied # 13 ▪ Lot 33 ▪ Édouard Cortès ▪ $23,900.00

Lot 33, “Rue Madeleine,” another iconic oil painting from the Sonneborn Estate by Édouard Cortès (French, 1882-1969) of the famed Parisian street, realized $23,9000.00, more than double its presale estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. “Rue Madeleine” was acquired by a telephone bidder competing against a multitude of prospective buyers across all bidding platforms.

#14 ▪ Lot 854 ▪ American Carved Oak Hall Seat ▪ $21,510.00

Against a presale estimate of $2,500 to $3,500, lot 854, a late 19th century American carved oak hall seat, which relates to New York examples by R.J. Horner, achieved a handsome $21,510.00, selling to an absentee bidder, who defeated several salesroom contenders and seven telephone bidders.

#15 ▪ Lot 452 ▪ Patinated Bronze and Gilt Brass-Mounted Chandeliers ▪ $20,315.00

Lot 452, an 1822 pair of Regency three-light argand chandeliers by Johnston & Brookes/Hector & Davidson, one of London’s leading lamp manufacturers of the time, far exceeded expectation. Against a presale estimate of $6,000 to $8,000, the chandeliers realized $20,315.00, selling to a New Yorker on the phone competing against the salesroom floor and absentee bidders.

#16 Tied ▪ Lot 69 ▪ Ernest Hemingway’s Three Stories & Ten Poems ▪ $19,120.00

Lot 69, a rare, first edition of Ernst Hemingway’s first book Three Stories & Ten Poems, became the much coveted prize of a New York collector, who persevered on the telephone to win the book for $19,120.00 over competition from absentee bidders and the salesroom floor.

#16 Tied ▪ Lot 856 ▪ American Renaissance-Style Carved Oak Hall Seat ▪ $19,120.00

Lot 856, an elaborately carved oak hall seat after the Italian cassapanca, or lift-top dowry chest, from the New York City furniture manufacturer R.J. Horner, was purchased for $19,120.00 by an Alabama buyer competing against an international telephone bank, the internet and collectors on the salesroom floor.

#17 ▪ Lot 179 ▪ American Carved Rosewood Console Étagère ▪ $16,730.00

Lot 179, a stunning American Rococo carved rosewood étagère attributed to John Henry Belter attracted a great deal of activity from telephone bidders and the salesroom floor. The piece, which was purchased by a telephone buyer, realized $16,730.00.

#18 ▪ Lot 173 ▪ Pair of Gilt Bronze Argand Lamps ▪ $14,937.00

Lot 173, a rare pair of gilt bronze argand lamps with Classical amphorae fonts, achieved an impressive $14,937.00, more than double its $6,000 presale low estimate. The lamps generated a flurry of activity from the phone bank, Internet, and absentee bidders. In the end, a New England telephone bidder triumphed.

#19 ▪ Lot 156 ▪ American Rococo Rosewood Chair ▪ $14,340.00

Lot 156, an exquisite c. 1850-1860 American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood armchair in the “Tuthill King” pattern, sold for an impressive $14,340.00 to a West Coast buyer, who outbid four other prospective telephone buyers.

#20 ▪ Lot 159 ▪ Late Regency Brass and Gilt Bronze Argand Chandelier ▪ $13,742.00

Lot 159, a fine brass and gilt bronze six-light chandelier likely manufactured by the English lighting giant Thomas Messenger and Sons, was purchased by a Mississippi buyer for $13,742.00.

OTHER NOTABLE SALES

Lot 91, a Baltimore Kirk sterling silver repoussé punch set from the mid-19th century, exceeded expectation. Against a $2,000 to $3,000 presale estimate, it soared to more than ten times that sum, selling for $13,145.00 to a telephone buyer competing against fifteen other telephone and absentee bidders.

Against a conservative estimate of $2,500 to $3,500, lot 1091, “Quan Quan Duck with Dock and Boat,” an oil painting on paper by Clementine Hunter (American/Louisiana, 1886-1988), generated much excitement on the salesroom floor, eventually selling to a Texan in-house for $9,856.00.

Lot 258, a rare 1863 “Map of the Lower Mississippi from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico…” by James T. Lloyd, was purchased for $11,352.00, more than double its estimate, by a local collector on the phone after staunch competition across all bidding platforms.

Lot 39, a stunning Lalique limited edition ruby and clear glass “Dragon” vase, achieved $7,170.00, selling on the phone to a local buyer.

Prices realized include Neal Auction Company’s Buyer’s Premium. Neal Auction Company’s Buyer’s Premium is 22% of the hammer price up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer the buyer’s premium is reduced by 2.5% of the 22%.