ATLANTA – Asian lots took center stage at Ahlers & Ogletree’s March 25-26 Spring Salon Auction, as a monumental classical painting attributed to Ming painter Qiu Ying (Chinese, 1494-1552) soared to $112,500, and a pair of Chinese huanghuali hardwood side tables made in the first half of the 20th century made $26,550. Overall, the auction grossed approximately $900,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
Headlining the event was the estate of Anne Eng, owner of Trader Eng’s and House of Eng in Atlanta; the private collection of Susan E. Yeomans of Charleston, S.C., a direct descendant of former South Carolina Governors Ibra C. Blackwood and Carroll Ashmore Campbell Jr. and former U.S. President Grover Cleveland; and the estate of Liz Howell Bloodworth of Atlanta.
The work attributed to Qiu Ying, depicting a palace courtyard (above), was a gouache and ink on paper, laid down on three wood panels, signed and sealed. It was truly monumental – 6 feet 7 inches tall by 21 feet 3 inches wide, and depicted a series of palace buildings and courtyards set in a mountain landscape. The painting was one of the choice lots from Anne Eng’s impressive estate.
Two matching hardwood huanghuali side tables were both square in form and boasted an open, pierced gallery apron, with a box stretcher. Both were apparently unmarked and measured just over 19 inches in height. They, too, came out of the Anne Eng estate. The term huanghuali literally means “yellow flowering pear” wood. It’s desired for its translucent shimmering surface.
Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, which differed depending on how the winning bid was placed.
A famille rose Chinese Export dinner service, 59 pieces, bearing the marks of the Guangxu period (1875-1908), decorated with butterflies centering an iron red dragon chasing the flaming pearl, breezed to $19,880. A mid-20th century Chinese carved, stained hardwood bench, having a pierced fretwork back centered with a large, inset dream stone, went for $10,890.
A platinum and diamond engagement and wedding ring set, consisting of an engagement ring having a central natural modern round brilliant cut diamond weighing about 2.65 carats, with two tapering baguette cut diamonds and three to the wedding band, realized $12,980. Also, an 18K yellow gold and diamond ladies’ Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, or “Rolex President,” wristwatch with diamond bezel on a gold bracelet, topped out at $7,865.
A two-tone, dark green to light face jug by the renowned American folk artist Lanier Meaders (Georgia, 1917-1998), made circa 1970s with a strap handle, painted white eyes with black pupils, a pointed nose and ears and six painted white teeth, signed, 9 1/2 inches tall, garnered $1,240. Fifteen lots by Meaders brought a total of $9,650. Also, a large rococo style 20th century bronze Italian two-tiered garden fountain with an allover verdigris patina, about 70 inches tall, rose to $4,960.
On to furniture, where a semicircular Omnibus III sectional sofa (below) attributed to the German-born American designer Vladimir Kagan Gray (1927-2016), designed in 1953 and upholstered in gray microfiber, with a loose back and tufted seat cushions, on Lucite supports, fetched $5,900. Also, an exotic mid-century modern rosewood desk by Roger Sprunger for Dunbar (American, founded 1910), having a rectangular form and marked on the inside drawer for Dunbar, fetched $2,178.
For details contact Ahlers & Ogletree at 404-869-2478 or email info@aandoauctions.com.
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