Stevens has saved the best auction for last; four prominent old Southern estates will be offered.
(FLOMATON, Ala.) – Four prominent old Southern estates – including the contents of a Baton Rouge estate with impeccable provenance and an antebellum mansion called Cedar Grove in Miss. – will be offered on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, in just the second auction ever conducted by Stevens at Flomaton, the Alabama affiliate of Stevens Auction Co., based in Aberdeen, Miss.
The auction will be held at 320 Palafox Street in Flomaton, an historic theater building that for years housed Flomaton Antique Auction and which was acquired by Stevens Auction Company only recently. The firm held its inaugural sale there Nov. 12. Flomaton is located near the Gulf Coast in Alabama, 64 miles northeast of Mobile and 42 miles north of Pensacola, Fla.
“We absolutely saved the best auction for last,” enthused Dwight Stevens, the owner of both Stevens Auction Company and Stevens at Flomaton. “The antiques and furnishings from all the estates are in pristine condition, and bidders will be offered the chance to own superior pieces of Americana, to include Empire, Victorian, Federal and rococo furnishings — all of it the best.”
Some of the highlights of the Baton Rouge collection include hand-painted porcelains (such as a pair of late 19th century museum-quality Old Paris vases, magnificent in detail and condition, and a monumental, 39-inch scenic Sevres urn, artist signed), as well as exquisite china, marvelous sterling silver pieces, beautiful works of art and many decorative accessories.
Pieces made by the renowned American furniture maker John H. Belter will include a rosewood rococo étagère with white marble top in great condition (circa 1850); a parlor set consisting of four side chairs, and arm chair and a love seat, in the Rosalie with Grapes pattern (circa 1850); and a lovely rosewood laminated armchair in the Rosalie pattern (without grapes).
Pieces by other famous furniture makers will include a rosewood rococo two-door wardrobe with fruit carvings and bird’s eye maple interior, attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks (circa 1850); a rare Carpathian walnut 6-piece bedroom suite by Alexander Roux (circa 1845); and a museum-quality mechanical rosewood drop-front secretary desk attributed to Thomas Brooks.
Also offered will be a crotch mahogany Empire sideboard in the style of Quervelle; rosewood pierce-carved parlor arm chair by George J. Henkel with blue upholstery, 39 inches tall by 26 inches wide (circa 1850); an oak double rotary pull-top desk with swing end and the Wooten Mfg. label (circa 1880); and a gorgeous American one-piece cherry corner cupboard.
Music boxes will feature a carved mahogany interchangeable cylinder music box by Paillard (N.Y., N.Y.); and a palace-sized 48-inch Nicole Frères Swiss cylinder interchangeable music box with floral marquetry inlay case, set on a based and with extra cylinders. Artwork will include a pair of large old oil on canvas portraits and an oil rendering of a ship sailing at night.
Antique timepieces will include a Victorian dore bronze 3-piece girandole clock set, 21 inches tall; and a marble pillar Empire clock by C.J. Hudson. Also sold will be a bronze and marble astral lamp. Folks shopping for a bed will be intrigued by the queen-size rosewood half-tester bed with pierce carving, 9 feet 2 inches tall, signed McCracken & Brewster (circa 1855).
Returning to furniture, some other choice lots will include a pair of rosewood Victorian recamiers (fainting couches), with extensive carving throughout; a cherry drop front desk, dove-tailed across the top; a mahogany Empire ham table with black and gold marble (circa 1840); and a crotch mahogany American bachelor’s chest Empire wardrobe (probably N.Y., circa 1840).
Rounding out the list of some expected top lots is a rosewood two-door rococo parlor cabinet with salmon-colored marble top (circa 1850); a period mahogany Empire combination pier table and game table with large gold claw feet (circa 1830); a rococo walnut étagère with carrara marble and center drawer, with burl trim (circa 1850); and a rosewood rococo turtle-top table with white marble and original finish, attributed to Mitchells & Rammelsberg (circa 1855).
An open house preview will be held on Friday, Dec. 30, from 10-6, and on auction day, Dec. 31, from 8 a.m. until the start of the sale (10 a.m., CST). Photos of the merchandise to be offered can be viewed online, at www.stevensauction.com. A catalog may be ordered by calling (662) 369-2200, or by e-mailing to [email protected]. Phone bids will be accepted.
Terms of the auction will be cash, major credit cards and pre-approved checks. All sales will be final, with no warranty expressed or implied. A 12 percent buyer’s premium will be charged on each total purchase price, with a 2 percent discount for cash, business and personal checks with proper ID, or wire transfers. An 8 percent sales tax will apply to most purchases.
Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (662) 369-2200; or, you can e-mail them at [email protected]. To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and the Dec. 31 auction in Flomaton, Ala., please log on to www.stevensauction.com.
