NEW ORLEANS, La. – The contents of Twin Oaks in Prairieville, La. (the onetime home of Robert Penn Warren, author of All the King's Men); items de-accessioned from the Alexandria Museum of Art in Alexandria, La.; and items descended in the family of Paul Capedevielle (who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 1900-1904) will all be sold at public auction, Sept. 11-13.

These are the headlining collections in a massive three-day estates sale being held by Crescent City Auction Gallery, in the firm's gallery at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. The start times will be 12 o'clock noon on Friday, Sept. 11 (lots 1-400); and 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 (lots 401-1,200) and Sunday, Sept. 13 (lots 1,201-1,700). All times quoted are Central time zone.

Categories include French and American period furniture, original artworks (many by noted New Orleans and regional artists), sculptures, sterling silver, antique clocks, Newcomb pottery (from a Newcomb pottery and metalwork collection), mirrors, Russian icons and more. For those unable to attend in person, online bidding will be offered by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com.

Robert Penn Warren lived at the stately manor Twin Oaks during his tenure at Louisiana State University. While there, he wrote All the King's Men, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1947 and was later made into a critically acclaimed movie. More than 300 lots of fine art and furniture pieces pulled from several buildings, plus a 5,000-square-foot barn at Twin Oaks, will be sold. This part of the auction has been ordered by the Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Louisiana (Case #08-10933 and #08-10756).

Paul Capedevielle lived a storied life, having fought in the Civil War and served as the Mayor of New Orleans and President of the New Orleans Library. Items descended in his family include furniture by makers such as J. & J.W. Meeks, family portraits and more. Pieces de-accessioned from the Alexandria Museum of Art will include contemporary graphic art, sculptures and more.

One of the Meeks pieces is a mid-19th century American Rococo Revival carved and laminated rosewood settee, crafted in a variation of the popular Stanton Hall pattern (est. $4,000-$8,000). A piece attributed to another renowned furniture maker of the time – R. J. Horner – is an American Renaissance Revival gryphon carved mahogany library table, circa 1900 (est. $6,000-$9,000).

Other noteworthy American furniture lots will include a monumental 19th century American Renaissance Revival carved rosewood grained walnut marble-top etagere, standing 116 inches tall, attributed to Thomas Brooks (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a two-piece American Renaissance Revival carved walnut bedroom suite, produced in the late 19th century (est. $1,400-$2,000).

French furniture will feature a late 19th century Louis XV-style carved oak double-door armoire, 93 inches tall (est. $1,400-$2,400); and a mid-19th century French Provincial Louis XV-style inlaid carved walnut sideboard (est. $800-$1,200). Also sold will be a 19th century French Louis Philippe gold leaf and gesso over-the-mantel mirror, 88 inches by 50 inches (est. $900-$1,200).

A candidate for top lot in the furniture category is a nice Louisiana carved cherry and mahogany creole armoire, early 19th century, 86 ¼ inches tall, first bought in New Orleans and descended in a French Quarter family until now (est. $5,000-$10,000). Also sold will be a pair of 19th century French gilt and patinated bronze five-light candelabra, with putti supports (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Fine art will feature a signed oil on canvas by the French painter Theophile Evariste Fragonard (1806-1876), titled The Secret Letter, 48 inches by 80 inches ($10,000-$15,000); and a signed oil on board by renowned New Orleans artist Clarence Millet (1897-1959), done circa 1958, titled Batture Farm on the Mississippi, with four letters from the artist to owner (est. $7,000-$12,000).

Offered will be more than one painting by Louisiana painter Alexander J. Drysdale (1870-1934). These include an early 20th century oil on canvas work titled Moss Draped Oaks on a Cloudy Day, signed, 13 inches by 19 ¾ inches (est. $4,000-$6,000); and an early 20th century oil wash on cardboard, signed and titled Bayou Landscape, 15 ¾ inches by 14 ¾ inches (est. $3,000-$5,000).

The equally renowned regional artist Robert M. Rucker (1932-2000) will also be offered in multiples. Works will include a 20th century signed oil on canvas titled Robert Penn Warren House, 23 ½ inches by 35 ½ inches (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a 20th century signed oil on canvas titled Par for the Course, measuring 22 inches tall by 31 ¾ inches wide (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Additional artworks will feature an early 20th century oil on board, signed by William Woodward 1859-1935), titled Tree in Front of Uptown House (est. $3,000-$5,000); a 20th century signed oil on board by Shirley Russell (Hawaiian, 1886-1985), titled Crashing Surf (est. $2,000-$3,000); and an aluminum sculpture by Alexander Liberman (1912-1999), untitled (est. $5,000-$7,000), part of the Alexandria Museum deaccession.

Sterling silver lots will include a seven-piece Mexican sterling tea and coffee service, produced in the 20th century by Lindo and weighing 339.73 troy ounces (est. $6,000-$9,000); and a superb sterling punch bowl from the late 19th century, holding 20 pints and made by Whiting, with relief decoration, weighing 119.61 troy ounces (est. $4,000-$6,000). Both are from a large collection.

From the same category is a 244-piece set of sterling flatware by Wallace, in the Meadow Rose pattern, weighing 236.2 troy ounces. Russian icons have become a popular attraction at recent Crescent City auctions. Sold will be an example made in Moscow around 1908-1917 and titled Christ Pantocrator, featuring a gilt silver riza and mounted with cabochon semi-precious stones, with the maker's mark of “KK” and 10 ¾ inches tall by 8 ¾ inches in width (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Antique clocks will be led by a French bronze and marble figural mantel clock made around 1850, with time and strike, 20 inches in height (est. $750-$950); and a French Art Nouveau patinated spelter and green onyx three-piece clock set, circa 1900, with the clock featuring a figure of Coup de Vent by the artist Auguste Moreau, 24 ½ inches in height (est. $600-$900).

A full color catalog is up now, online, at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. A printed catalog is also available on request. Exhibition previews will start on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd, and continue up to Thursday, Sept. 10th, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (except for Sunday and Labor Day; the gallery is closed). There will also be a late evening preview on Wednesday, Sept. 9th, lasting until 8 p.m.

Crescent City Auction Gallery is always accepting 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 e-mail them at info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com. To learn more about Crescent City Auction Gallery and the upcoming Sept. 11th-13th auction, please visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

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