Neal’s record-setting Winter Estate Auction tops $2.3 million
William Woodward (American/New Orleans, 1859-1939) Raffaelli oil crayon on board titled ‘Mid-Morning at Corner of Dauphine and St. Louis Streets’ sold for $215,100, a record for the artist. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
Lot 308, a 1912 William Woodward (American/New Orleans, 1859-1939) Raffaelli oil crayon on board titled Mid-Morning at Corner of Dauphine and St. Louis Streets, was the top lot. Against a presale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000, the Woodward work achieved a new world record price for the artist, selling for $215,100 amid intense competition. Rachel Weathers, Neal Auction Co.’s director of Paintings, Prints and Photography, called the painting “a document of the Vieux Carre from the period when it was transitioning from an immigrant’s haven into a bohemian destination; the painting deftly conveys Woodward’s interest in architectural preservation.”
Neal Auction Company now holds the top four prices for works by the artist sold at auction including: Coffee Five Cents Per Cup: Poydras Market, which sold in November 2007 for $182,000; Ursuline Convent, which sold in November 2003 for $140,000; and Furnished Rooms, French Town, which sold in November 2008 for $129,000.
Lot 309, a William Henry Buck (American/New Orleans, 1840-1888) oil depicting a Live Oak along the Bayou, performed commendably, selling for $191,200 against a presale estimate of $125,000 to $200,000. The painting, which descended in the family of the artist, was discovered in Birmingham, Ala., along with another Buck work, which Weathers, director of Paintings at Neal Auction Co., announced will be included in the April 16-17 Important Spring Estates Auction. Live Oak along the Bayou commanded considerable regional interest, which, after several strong opening bids, boiled down to two phones bidders.
Lot 23, a circa 1820 Vienna Biedermeier mahogany, birch, ebonized and parcel gilt Globustisch worktable, witnessed intense bidding from an International audience. Of the 10 telephone bidders called to bid on the lot, three were from Austria, one from Germany, one from Italy, and the U.S bidders hailed from Michigan, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, and Maryland. With a presale estimate of $6,000 to $8,000, the globe-form worktable realized $47,800, selling to an Austrian buyer.
Lot 99, an early 19th-century giallo di Siena marble three-piece grand tour garniture representing the Ruins of the Temple of the Heavenly Twins Castor and Pollux; the Temple of Vespian; and the Column of Phocas, achieved $26,290 against a presale estimate of $15,000-$25,000.
Lot 904, a Jacques Guillaume Lucien Amans (French, 1801-1888, active New Orleans 1836-1856) portrait, performed well. With a presale estimate of $6,000-$9,000, the Portrait of a Beautiful Woman in a Green Dress saw active interest on the telephone, in the salesroom, and through absentee bids. The unidentified beauty, called by Rachel Weathers, “a great testament to Aman’s skills as a portraitist,” realized $21,500 – the second highest price ever achieved for a work by the artist at auction. Neal Auction Co. continues to maintain the record price for the artist with the Portrait of Antoinette Decuir, which sold in May for an unprecedented $72,900. Lot 315, the Amans Portrait of Madame Emma Schreiner Mortimer also performed well, achieving $15,535.
Lot 76, a mid-19th century American Renaissance carved and burl walnut, gilt and ebonized bookcase by a New York maker, witnessed considerable attention. With eight phone bidders competing for the lot, the bookcase reached $19,120 – more than doubling its presale low estimate of $8,000.
Lot 583, an early-to-mid 19th century apricot ground Chinese kesi dragon robe woven in the split weave technique, garnered substantial interest from both European and Chinese dealers and private collectors. With 10 telephones competing for the lot against the Internet and an active bidder in the room, the kesi robe realized $17,000 against a presale estimate of $1,500-$2,500.
Lot 251, a circa 1895-1902, unsigned Lilly Martin Spencer (British/New York, 1822-1902) oil titled The Centennial depicting the 100th birthday celebration of the artist’s “Aunt” Mary, achieved $16,730.
Lot 70, a late 18th-early 19th century Italian School painting of a classical landscape with ruins and figures, more than doubled its $8,000 high estimate to achieve $16,132. Competition was strong with telephone bidders on three lines competing against Internet and the salesroom floor.
Lot 382, a circa 1928 Hilda Kristina Lascari (American, 1885-1937) bronze fountain called La Nymphea (The Waterlily) achieved a record price for a work by the artist, realizing $15,535.
Prices realized include Neal Auction Company’s Buyer’s Premium, which is equal to either 19.5 percent or 22 percent of the hammer price depending upon the payment method.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalogs for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
William Henry Buck (American/New Orleans, 1840-1888) oil depicting a ‘Live Oak along the Bayou’ brought $191,200. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
Circa 1820 Vienna Biedermeier Globustisch globe-form worktable, sold for $47,800. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
Early 19th-century giallo di Siena marble three-piece grand tour garniture representing the Ruins of the Temple of the Heavenly Twins Castor and Pollux; the Temple of Vespian; and the Column of Phocas, sold for $26,290. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
‘Portrait of a Beautiful Woman in a Green Dress’ by Jacques Guillaume Lucien Amans (French, 1801-1888, active New Orleans 1836-1856) realized $21,500. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
American Renaissance carved and burl walnut, gilt and ebonized bookcase, New York, topped $19,120. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
Unsigned oil by Lilly Martin Spencer (British/New York, 1822-1902) titled ‘The Centennial’ depicting the 100th birthday celebration of the artist’s ‘aunt’ Mary, achieved $16,730. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
Hilda Kristina Lascari (American, 1885-1937) bronze fountain called ‘La Nymphea’ (The Waterlily) achieved a record price for a work by the artist, realizing $15,535. Image courtesy of Neal Auction Co.
