Date: Fri 29-May-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Gothic

Full Text:

Gothic Revival Hall Chair

SS

By Rita Easton

NEW ORLEANS, LA. -- A two-session auction on March 28 and 29 at New Orleans

Auction Galleries, Inc, featured 1,300 lots of American, English and

Continental furniture and decorative objects.

"It was the most phone and absentee activity we've ever had at the gallery,"

said Kelly Eppler of the gallery. "Maybe that was because there was good

weather and people were traveling more. It's hard to say. We also had a full

house." The event grossed a healthy $1,750,000.

Among the roster of prominent consignors was Americana from the local estates

of Bertha Schepps of Houston, former Texas congressman and Mrs Albert Thomas,

Camellia Gardens in Nachez, Miss., and the estate of decorated World War I

veteran General T. Bentley Mott and Mrs Mott. The Motts were both decorated

during the war, and a wedding photo of the couple that was published in the

auction catalogue featured Mrs Mott on her wedding day wearing her medals on

her wedding gown.

Purchased by a dealer who may have been bidding for a client, an important

American Gothic Revival oak and walnut hall chair, circa 1855, reached the

high bid of the auction at $40,700. By coincidence, a subsequent auction at

the New Orleans Gallery offered the matching recamier to that chair, found in

another large New Orleans home on a consignment call.

A set of six French polychromed leather panels in the Singerie style of Jean

Berain, circa 1639-1711, professionally conserved and presented in blond wood

frames, 63‹ inches high by 21« inches wide, were sold separately to different

buyers, realizing a total of $41,036; a mixed media on canvas, "Cluster Series

1-41" by New Orleans native Ida Kohlmeyer (American, 1912-1997), measuring 72«

by 72« inches, signed and dated 1977, sold to a dealer at $24,200, well over

the high estimate of $10,000; and a fine French painted and parcel gilt

plaster partial salon interior, in the Directoire style, by Jansen of Paris,

1951, consisting of four doors, cornice molding, wainscoting, and a

disassembled Carrara marble mantel with ormolu mounts, reached $14,300. The

grouping (est $2/4,000) was deaccessioned by the Louisiana State Museum.

A Georg Jensen sterling silver "Blossom" kettle on stand (est $2/4,000) went

to a first time private bidder at $5,280; an Italian carved white marble and

pietra dura floor fountain, circa 1840, eight inches high and 41« inches

square, fetched $14,850; a pair of Venetian carved parcel gilt and ebonized

beechwood figural torcheres, circa 1735, approximately 67 inches high, the

standing figures of a man and a woman, achieved mid-estimate at $21,450; and a

Napoleon III carved white marble mantel piece in the Louis XV taste, circa

1860, 45¬ inches wide by 18 inches deep (est $3/5,000), went for $11,550.

An antique Persian Bidjar rug, circa 1875, 25'5" by 15'1", having a red

ground, sold privately at $17,050; a John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851)

double elephant folio, "Barn Owl," plate CLXXI, No 35, 37« by 24« inches,

excellent condition, was purchased at $12,100; and a second Audubon, "Pinnated

Grouse," also double elephant folio, plate CIXXVI, No 38, engraved, printed,

and colored by R. Havell, 1834, 24‹ by 38Ô inches, reached $7,700.

A pair of separately sold oils on canvas by Danish artist Harold Rudolph, who

was active in Louisiana during the 1870-1884 period, depicting bayou

landscape, measuring 16 by 24 inches, each made $19,800 and $14,850.

Prices quoted reflect a ten percent buyer's premium.