FLOWOOD, Miss. – A multi-estate auction featuring 521 lots of fine French period furniture, original artwork, sterling silver, antique clocks, decorative accessories and more will be held on Monday, May 25th (Memorial Day), by Edens Auctions, in the firm’s gallery at 3720 Flowood Drive, at 10 a.m. Central time. Flowood is located north and east of Jackson, near I-55 and I-20.

It is the 8th annual Memorial Day sale for Edens Auctions and it could very well be their best one yet. “This promises to be a truly amazing auction, one that includes many remarkable items from France, plus other outstanding lots,” said Frank Edens of Edens Auctions. “Many of the items were purchased from interior designers, so that is a pretty fair indicator of their value and worth.”

Two pieces of period French furniture carry identical pre-sale estimates of $10,000-$15,000. One is an 18th century carved walnut provencal enfilade (a French Louis XV-style buffet) from Arles, with three doors, two drawers and an apron at the bottom. The other is an 18th century two-door petit bonnet-top walnut armoire with large, pegged fish hinges, impressive at 86 inches in height.

One other lot is expected to realize $10,000-$15,000. It’s a gracious set of Rocaille sterling silver French flatware by Ercuis, consisting of eight five-piece place settings, each piece crafted from high-quality solid silver and detailed with a scroll pattern. Also sold as a separate lot will be a five-place setting for six, Rocaille sterling flatware by Ercuis. It should bring $7,500-$10,000.

A pair of large original oil paintings, both done by French artists around 1770, both carry pre-sale estimates of $5,000-$8,000. One depicts falconers celebrating their return home from a hunt, with a fountain providing water for the dogs. It is housed in a simple gold egg and dart frame. The other is a courtship scene, surrounded by animals and a mountainous landscape. It might have been painted by a country French School artist. Both works are 35 ½ inches by 81 inches.

A set of eight Raynaud Limoges china dinner plates in the Scheherazade pattern, 10 ¾ inches in diameter, and a set of eight Raynaud Limoges china Scheherazade pattern cups and saucers, will be sold as separate lots (both est. $4,000-$5,000). Also offered will be a circa 1780 Swedish Gustavienne clock, 78 inches by 23 inches (est. $6,000-$8,000); and a Cascini Neapolitan hand-made and painted nativity set, with all figures in lovely decorated clothing (est. $5,000-$8,000).

Returning to fine French furniture, a Louis XVI-period demi lune (half-round) commode made in the south of France in the 18th century, with gray and white bow-front marble, is expected to rise to $5,000-$10,000; while an 18th century painted fall front desk with cubbyhole interior and an elaborate painted scene on the fall front and three S-front drawers, should realize $4,000-$8,500.

Other French furniture pieces will feature an 18th century Louis XV-period armoire with unusual and highly elaborate sets of brass hardware, with two panel doors (est. $6,000-$8,000); an 18th century buffet a deux corps (two-tiered buffet with the top cabinet being shallower in depth than the bottom), Louis XV-period and made in the south of Brittany (est. $4,000-$6,000); and an 18th century Louis XIV walnut commode with black marble top, 49 inches wide (est. $4,500-$6,000).

Rounding out just some of the expected star lots of the furniture category are a fine Gustavian Swedish painted chest, made in the 18th century and with three drawers, a pull-out dust tray, bow front drawers and the original hardware (est. $8,000-$10,000); and a 19th century painted corner cabinet having double doors with the original interior paint, 84 inches tall (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Previews will be held weekdays leading up to the auction, Monday thru Friday, from 9-5, and on Saturday from 10-2. Edens Auctions is closed on Sundays. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted. A 12 percent buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases. All items are being offered as-is.

Edens Auctions’ next sale promises to be just as exciting as this one – maybe even moreso. It will be the auction of a mansion home and its contents from the late Russell V. Puckett, to be held on-site later on in the year in Vicksburg. Miss. The home is a turn-of-the-century example of fine Mediterranean Romanesque architecture. It is a National Registered Historic Property.

But the home just might be upstaged by what’s contained inside – a veritable treasure trove of antiques and collectibles. Mr. Puckett was an avid collector and a dealer, even operating a shop out of the Vicksburg mansion (called “The Old Feld Home”), where he sold pieces from his huge collection. Many are still there – more than 4,000 pieces in all. These will be sold on auction day.

“I have attended countless auctions during my career, but none so chock-a-block full of high-quality items as those that will be in the Puckett sale,” said David J. Maloney, Jr., author for 14 years of Maloney’s Antiques & Collectibles Resource Directory. “The vast assortment of fine glassware, ceramics, furniture, lamps, artwork and more will make this a memorable auction.”

Edens Auctions is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions. The firm has been providing professional auction services in the areas of real estate, estates, antiques, business liquidations and other properties for decades. To inquire about consigning an item, an estate or a collection, you may call (601) 896-0345; or e-mail them at frank.edens@edensauctions.com.

To learn more about Edens Auctions, the May 25th Memorial Day auction and the upcoming sale of the home and property of the late Russell V. Puckett, please visit www.edensauctions.com.

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