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Probably made in New Orleans or New York, this American Gothic Revival oak chair is considered rare and important because of its place in plantations of the antebellum South. This fine example has a $20,000-$40,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.

Legendary Miss. dealer’s antiques to sell at St. Charles Gallery, Jan. 23-24

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Probably made in New Orleans or New York, this American Gothic Revival oak chair is considered rare and important because of its place in plantations of the antebellum South. This fine example has a $20,000-$40,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.
Probably made in New Orleans or New York, this American Gothic Revival oak chair is considered rare and important because of its place in plantations of the antebellum South. This fine example has a $20,000-$40,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery will sell nearly 1,500 lots of antiques and fine art at its Jan. 23-24 auction. Highlights range from a Belter sofa in the Tuthill King pattern, to a rare Gothic Revival oak hall chair to a museum-quality collection of American Brilliant-period cut glass. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

The cut glass is from the estate of Johnnie Mac Booker, a longtime antique dealer who operated Booker’s Antiques in Whynot, Miss., since 1961. Mr. Booker’s inventory focused on cut glass, Wave Crest glass, carnival glass, clocks, oil paintings and Victorian furniture. He died last August.

“His prized collection of American Brilliant cut glass includes some of the finest examples we have had the pleasure of offering,” said Tessa Steinkamp, executive vice president of St. Charles Gallery.

Reportedly named for a wealthy real estate tycoon in Chicago, the coveted Tuthill King pattern was one of the most elaborate pierced carving found on furniture made by the New York shops of John Henry Belter. The sofa attributed to Belter in the St. Charles Gallery auction is 48 inches high, 87 inches long and 32 inches deep. It carries an estimate of $50,000-$80,000.

An American Rococo Revival rosewood étagère attributed to J. H. Belter is a rare low version of the étagère sold by Belter to “Rosalie” in Natchez, Miss., in the third quarter of the 19th century. Rosalie became the name of another Belter carving pattern. The crest, centered by fruit carving amid a pierced foliate- and grape-carved field, is on an arched central mirror flanked by two graduated serpentine shelves on a pair of larger serpentine shelves each backed by a mirror plate, on a low serpentine marble-top base with central shell, foliate and fruit carving. It stands 76 1/2 inches high by 54 inches wide by 16 inches deep. The estimate is $18,000-$25,000.

The Gothic Revival side chair is American, made in either New York or New Orleans, and considered an important piece from the plantations of the antebellum South. The oak chair has carved spires reaching 70 1/2 inches high. A similar chair sold for nearly $29,000 at St. Charles Gallery in January 2009. This one has a $20,000-$40,000 estimate.

A Pairpoint Puffy table lamp with a reverse-painted shade depicting roses in bloom is another featured lot in the sale. The shade retains a partial gold stamped label “Pairpoint Corp.” The base is marked with a only a cast number “1116.”

It’s undoubtedly the original base,” said Steinkamp.

The lamp is 22 inches tall and the shade is 10 inches in diameter. The estimate is $3,000-$5,000.

An attractive pair of Paris porcelain garniture vases from the third quarter 19th century, now mounted as table lamps, 14 1/2 inches high, has a $700-$800 estimate. One façade of each of the rococo-style vases is well-painted with a spray of summer flowers, the reverse with gallants reserves.

One of the top paintings in the sale is Portrait of a Young Girl With a Sheep by Carnig Eksergian (Armenian/American, 1855-1931). Signed and dated 1906, the 54- by 47-inch oil on canvas is presented in a period molded giltwood and gesso frame.

“It’s by a good artist who has work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” said Steinkamp. The lovely painting has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.

Among the best and the most brilliant of the cut glass collection is a punchbowl on stand in the Hobstar and Comet pattern. It is 14 1/4 inches tall by 19 inches in diameter. Several small chips and minor scratches from use are noted. It has a $300-$500 estimate.

The auction will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. Central and consists of 827 lots. Sunday’s session, which will begin at 11 a.m. Central, will have 657 lots.

For details phone 504-586-8733.

To view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view New Orleans Auction, St. Charles Gallery, Inc.’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

The Tuthill King carved pattern was one of the most elaborate produced by John H. Belter. This sofa in the coveted pattern is estimated to bring $50,000-$80,000. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.
The Tuthill King carved pattern was one of the most elaborate produced by John H. Belter. This sofa in the coveted pattern is estimated to bring $50,000-$80,000. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.

Roses in high relief cover the reverse-painted glass shade of this Pairpoint Puffy table lamp. The 22-inch high base is marked with a cast number only: ‘1116.’ It has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.
Roses in high relief cover the reverse-painted glass shade of this Pairpoint Puffy table lamp. The 22-inch high base is marked with a cast number only: ‘1116.’ It has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.

‘Portrait of a Young Girl With a Sheep’ is signed and dated lower left ‘C. Eksergian 1906.’ The 54- by 47-inch oil on canvas painting has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.
‘Portrait of a Young Girl With a Sheep’ is signed and dated lower left ‘C. Eksergian 1906.’ The 54- by 47-inch oil on canvas painting has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.

More than 50 lots of American Brilliant era cut glass will be auctioned. At the center is an early 1900s punchbowl on stand in the Hobstar and Comet pattern. The bowl, 19 inches in diameter, has a $300-$500 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.
More than 50 lots of American Brilliant era cut glass will be auctioned. At the center is an early 1900s punchbowl on stand in the Hobstar and Comet pattern. The bowl, 19 inches in diameter, has a $300-$500 estimate. Image courtesy New Orleans Auction St. Charles Gallery Inc.