(NEW ORLEANS, La.) – An 18th century Chinese Qianlong celadon jade censer with a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-$25,000, items from the living estate of iconic New Orleans artist and photographer George Valentine Dureau (b. 1930) and an untitled glazed ceramic sculpture by Lynda Benglis (Am., b. 1941) are all part of a huge weekend auction planned for July 13-14.

The auction will be conducted by Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm’s gallery located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Start times both days will be 10 a.m. (CST). Over 1,200 lots will be offered, to include fine art, antique clocks, Chinese objects, Persian rugs, period American and European furniture, antique lamps and lighting and decorative accessories.

The Chinese censer is the expected top lot of the auction. Executed circa 1736-1795, the piece features a central band across the bowl, with the lip carved with a bat. The other side shows relief tassels, framing Chinese characters within. The censer is two inches tall and 6 ¼ inches in diameter. Similar ones have sold at Sotheby’s and elsewhere for much more than the estimate.

George Dureau has been called the quintessential New Orleans artist. The 83-year-old artist-photographer was a French Quarter fixture for years, but now Alzheimer’s Disease has forced him into a local nursing home. The auction of his estate items, in fact, will help defray some of his medical costs. A group called “Friends of George” has spearheaded this effort.

The auction will contain items that Dureau used professionally and personally. These include an American Southern walnut tester bed, a cypress refractory table, a pair of Mid-Century Modern Bertoia diamond chairs, a large carved wooden statue of a winged horse, Bentwood dining chairs, pottery pieces and photo props that Dureau used in his picture-taking.

In the auction's fine art category is a piece by Lynda Benglis, a Louisiana-born sculptor who now lives and works in New York. She is best known for her wax paintings, poured latex sculptures, knot-shaped “environments,” fountains and graphics. The work being sold is a glazed ceramic with gray and purple luster. It is a signed artist’s proof, 17 inches tall (est. $10,000-$15,000).

Other artworks to be sold include a 1992 oil on canvas by James Michalopoulos (La., b. 1951), titled Lumus, signed and framed (est. $2,500-$3,500); an early 20th century patinated bronze sculpture by Pierre Henri Leon Varnier (Fr., 1826-1890), titled The Stalking Indian, 14 ½ inches tall, signed (est. $2,500-$3,500); and a 1973 watercolor on Masonite by Noel Rockmore (NY/La., 1928-1995), signed, titled Man Beneath Coney Island Boardwalk (est. $1,500-$3,000).

Antique clocks worth noting will include a late 19th century three-piece Louis XV-style bronze clock set, with the clock face and movement marked Tiffany & Co. (N.Y.), with a pair of matching five-light candelabra on relief support urns (est. $900-$1,500); and a French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock, made circa 1820 by Hunziker (Rue Debussy, Paris), with the right side showing a figure of a winged Eros, the left his swan form bow and arrows (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Additional clocks will feature a three-piece marble and patinated spelter clock set made circa 1900 of The Eagle Seller by Samuel Marti, with urn garnitures (est. $1,200-$1,800); a fine French gilt bronze mantel clock (circa 1830), with the movement signed “Pons” with a large relief figure of a saint in prayer (est. $1,200-$1,800) and a 19th century French three-piece bronze and black marble clock set by Japy Freres of Paris, with matching coupes (est. $1,400-$1,800).

The American furniture category will be led by a gorgeous circa-1860 carved rosewood marble-top center table attributed to Alexander Roux, with white ogee-edged tortoise-top marble on a base with a shaped deep relief floral carved skirt (est. $5,000-$8,000); and a carved laminated rosewood settee (circa 1860), attributed to John H. Belter, in the Rosalie With Grapes pattern, having an arched back with fruit and flower carved crest (est. $1,000-$2,000).

French furniture pieces will feature a handsome 19th century elaborately inlaid satinwood and rosewood Louis XV-style cylinder desk with a cantilevered front that opens when the tooled leather writing surface is pulled forward (est. $3,500-$5,500); a 19th century Louis XV-style carved oak marble-top sideboard, signed Gouffe of Paris (est. $2,000-$3,000); and a circa-1790 Louis XV-style inlaid cherry sideboard with three parquetry inlaid drawers (est. $1,200-$1,800).

Also offered will be a 19th century French Empire carved mahogany ormolu-mounted marble top server, with gray marble over a frieze drawer with a relief bronze ormolu mount of Zeus, flanked by other figures (est. $1,500-$3,000); and a Georgian-style carved mahogany breakfast bookcase (circa 1900) on a plinth and massive at 88 ½ inches tall (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Rounding out the list of expected top lots are a pair of early 19th century French Empire patinated and gilt bronze four-light candelabra (est. $2,000-$4,000); a mid-20th century Persian silk Tabriz carpet, with silver thread, 2 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 4 inches (est. $3,000-$5,000); a 19th century French bronze and mother-of-pearl inlaid burled walnut gilt bronze mounted cave de liqueur, or lockable liquor box having 4 decanters and 16 glasses (est. $2,500-$3,500); and a pair of 19th century Louis XV-style gilt bronze mounted marble-covered urns (est. $2,200-$3,200).

Previews will be held from Friday, July 5, through Friday, July 12, from 10-5 (except on Sunday, July 7, when the gallery is closed). A late evening preview, lasting until 8 p.m., will be held on Wednesday, July 10. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com. For those unable to attend in person, phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

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 July 13-14 sale is available on request. All lots can be seen online, at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

To learn more about Crescent City Auction Gallery and the upcoming July 13-14 auction, please log on to www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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