ATLANTA, Ga. – A mahogany carved and figured Queen Anne highboy (high chest of drawers raised on cabriole legs), likely originating from Massachusetts and dating between 1730 and 1750, sold for $32,500 at a huge, high-end, multi-estate auction held June 6-8 by Ahlers & Ogletree, in the firm’s gallery located at 715 Miami Circle (Suite 210) in Atlanta. The highboy was one of the auction's highlights as it was the strongest pieces in the private collection of Dorothy Edwards of Atlanta and proved to be the top lot of the auction.

Close behind was an English, mid-18th century George II mahogany wood tilt-top table with a round top having a floral carved border raised on a beaded and gadrooned shaft on a tripod base with acanthus leaf motif; and an early 19th century ebonized and gilt carved Empire table with white square marble top, made by noted cabinetmaker and craftsman Charles-Honore Lannuier (Fr./Am., 1779-1819) of New York City. Both tables brought hammer prices of $30,000 each.

“Period furniture did particularly well in this auction, a category that has been somewhat soft in past years, and I attribute the success of our sale to strong British participation, both among phone bidders and online bidders,” said Robert Ahlers of Ahlers & Ogletree. “However, we had strong bidding in other categories which did perform well, too. These included fine sterling silver, Art Nouveau furniture and decorative art, musical devices and even Greek pottery.”

The auction was originally planned as a two day event, but so much great merchandise poured in during the days leading up to the sale, there was no choice but to add a third day (June 6th). Just over 1,100 lots of fresh estate items came up for bid in all, including a large number of Asian objects and artifacts, estate jewelry, fine artwork, Persian rugs, mirrors, antique clocks and more.

The auction attracted a number of bidders in-house, online and on the phones. Between 250 and 300 people attended the auction in person, while online participation was very strong (LiveAuctioneers.com averaged 1,184 approved bidders per day, while Invaluable.com attracted 762 approved bidders per day). The phone banks were busy all weekend, with over 400 phone bids, and quite a few left (absentee) bids were also recorded. After all the excitement had died down and the last lot had sold, the weekend's auction had hammered $1.135 million.

The following are additional highlights from Ahlers & Ogletree's June auction. All prices quoted below and noted above are hammer prices, exclusive of a sliding scale buyer's premium.

Of the clocks in the sale, the top performer was a Federal eagle-inlaid and figured mahogany tall case clock, attributed to the New Jersey clock maker Matthew Egerton (active 1785-1837), 97 ½ inches tall, with an upper portion showing a hand-painted hot air balloon (possibly documenting the first hot air balloon flight in the States), rose to $23,500; and a 19th century French Aiguilles brass carriage clock with beveled glass paneled sides and maker-inscribed movement, hammered for $6,500.

From the fine art category, an original oil on canvas by the Dutch painter Charles Sayers (1901-1943), titled Bali Market Scene (1938), signed and dated and depicting people (mostly semi-nude women) buying and selling wares at market, brought $17,000. Also, a hand-woven and palace-size Persian serapi carpet with floral design, 11 feet by 17 feet 8 inches, finished at $12,000.

A late 19th century Regina “Corona” Model 34 oak-cased upright double-combed nickelodeon music player, with a glass front and frosted accents to showcase 12 large-toothed music discs within the changer, played a sweet tune for $14,000; and a circa-1900 French Galle Art Nouveau marquetry inlaid music cabinet with ornate floral and butterfly motif, Galle signed, hit $12,000.

From lamps and lighting, an American, circa-1910 Duffner & Kimberly leaded glass and gilt bronze table lamp, 30 inches tall (with a 20 ½ inch shade comprised of burgundy, cobalt blue and opalescent glass tiles, lit up the room for $9,000; while a pair of 18th century matching George III ebonized and parcel gilt wood torcheres with pierced woven motif, wowed the crowd for $8,500.

Among the numerous pieces of fine sterling silver, one of the best items, a George III sterling silver lidded soup tureen made by Rebecca Eames and Edward Barnard I (London, circa 1809), with facial mounts and leap tip motif and weighing 112.1 troy ounces, garnered $9,000; and a pair of George III sterling silver covered round vegetable dishes, made by Robert Garrard (London, circa 1811), with beaded, shell, leaf and gadrooned motif hit $8,000.

A hand-colored map engraving of London on four sheets laid down by Georg Balthasar Probst (Germ., 1673-1748), with a view of the Thames River and identifying over 200 locations and geographic sites, fetched $7,000; and a third quarter 18th century map of Paris by Johann Georg Hertel, also a hand-colored map engraving, with 48 locations identified, commanded $6,500.

Two pieces of ancient pottery from the Edwards Collection each sold for $6,500. One was a Greek double-handled Pelike vase with red figures on each side (women and winged figures) accented in cream and black, 13 ½ inches tall. The other was an Italian Campanian fish pottery plate with a squid and two teethed fish on top and the sides decorated with a wave motif, 7 ½ inches in diameter.

Rounding out the sale’s top lots were a matched pair of English two-tiered side tables composed of ebonized wood with a bone spindle gallery on each level, raised on brass wheeled casters, went for $12,500; and a third quarter 18th century pair of finely executed George III period gilt wood wall mirrors with scrolled foliate and floral decoration on the sides, 43 inches tall, sold for $9,500. A pair of 18th century matching George III ebonized and parcel gilt wood torcheres with pierced woven motif brought $8,500.

Ahlers & Ogletree has a Summer Estates Auction slated for the weekend of Aug. 9-10, also to be held in their Atlanta gallery, at 715 Miami Circle. Over 1,000 premier lots in a wide range of antique and high-end categories will be sold. The auction will be open for preview viewing on Aug. 6-8, from 10-6 p.m., and on sale days from 10 a.m. until the opening words and the first drop of the hammer at 11 a.m. An evening reception will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, from 5-9 p.m.

Ahlers & Ogletree is a multi-faceted, family-owned business that spans the antiques, estate sale, wholesale, liquidation, auction and related industries. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (404) 869-2478; or, you can send them an e-mail at consignments@AandOauctions.com.

To learn more about Ahlers & Ogletree and the Aug. 9-10 Summer Estates Auction, please visit www.AandOauctions.com.

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