The Signature Estates Auction will be held in the firm’s Atlanta showroom, at 715 Miami Circle.
ATLANTA, Ga. – A gilt bronze sculpture signed by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro (b. 1926), a hand-modeled redware figure of a reclining whippet by noted Shenandoah Valley potter Solomon Bell (1817-1882), a dazzling GIA-certified 6.68-carat brown diamond engagement ring; and a hand-signed Marina Edition etching on paper by Pablo Picasso will all come for bid Jan. 14-16.
Up for bid will be a large and important private collection from Greenwich, Conn.; property from the estate of John L. Roper II of Norfolk, Va. (the former CEO of Norfolk Shipping and Drydock Corp.); and fine jewelry and furs from the estate of Diane Smith McGiver. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, BidSquare.com and the Ahlers & Ogletree app available for iPhone and Android.
The Pomodoro sculpture is gilt bronze on a wood plinth base, titled Lettera Solare (1977), and depicts interwoven planes of mechanical spokes orbiting a circular disk, suggesting captured light rays. The bas-relief panel sculpture is 19 inches tall and has a pre-sale estimate of $18,000- $24,000. Pomodoro’s work is on view at the Vatican Museum and at the United Nations building.
The Solomon Bell redware figure of a whippet (or greyhound) was executed around 1832 and is rare, early and important, as the Bell whippet remains one of the most iconic and highly-prized forms of Shenandoah Valley (Va.) pottery. The dog sits atop an oblong base with multi-glaze, most likely lead, copper and manganese oxide. The 7 ¼ inch piece should hit $15,000-$30,000.
The GIA-certified modern diamond engagement ring, with a $40,000-$60,000 estimate, boasts a 6.68-carat natural fancy light brown round brilliant cut center diamond with VS2 clarity and a strong blue fluorescence, flanked by six prong-set tapered baguette cut diamonds weighing 1.5 carats, mounted on three joined bands – a platinum center and two 14kt white gold outer bands.
Pablo Picasso (Sp., 1881-1973) is represented in the sale with a circa-1959 etching on paper with decked edges titled Man on Horseback. It’s expected to realize $8,000-$12,000. The figural Spanish Cubist print depicts an abstract scene with a man on horseback, with an inscription to the upper right. The 20 inch by 25 ¾ inch etching (less the frame) is graphite signed by Picasso.
The sale’s expected top lot is a stunning oil on canvas painting by the renowned Hudson River School artist Worthington Whittredge (Am., 1820-1910), titled Campers in the Blue Ridge Mountains, artist-signed lower right. The painting depicts a stony stream surrounded by dense forest, with a group of figures in the background shown building a small fire in a bright stream-side clearing.
The classic Hudson River School painting captures the essence of American Transcendentalism. Measuring 23 inches by 34 inches, it’s expected to bring $40,000-$60,000. Several documents are available that attest to the work’s impeccable provenance, including correspondences relating to a former curator at the High Museum of Atlanta and one for a restoration effort done in 1974.
The Asian category will be led by a fine palatial Chinese Export porcelain punch bowl (or center bowl) hand-painted in the Thousand Butterfly rose medallion decoration, with a pre-sale estimate of $5,000-$7,000; and a circa 1900s large gilt bronze and copper alloy figure of the bodhisattva Quanyin, shown standing on a lotus throne base, 41 ½ inches tall, expected to hit $3,000-$5,000.
A 19th century hand-woven flat weave wool Serapi rug, in many colors in a geometric foliate and animal motif, 18 feet 4 inches by 11 feet 6 inches, should make $6,000-$12,000; while a tapering scenic vase made in 1929 by Sadie Irvine (Am., 1887-1970) for Newcomb College (La., 1880-1940), 9 ¼ inches tall, in blue tones with a banded neck, should change hands for $3,000-$5,000.
Silver lots will include a mid-20th century 126-piece fine and heavy silverplate flatware set by Christofle (French, founded 1830 in the Perles pattern (designed in 1890), estimated to bring $5,000-$7,000; and an important, circa 1920s International Silver Company (American, founded 1898) silver plated Meriden lighthouse for cocktail shaker, expected to breeze to $3,000-$5,000.
Clocks and watches will feature a rare, early 18th century pair-cased verge escapement sterling silver and brass pocket or clock watch by James Banks (English, 18th century) and Bartholomew Barwell (Br./Am., active in New York 1749-1760), with an estimate of $5,000-$7,000; and an equally scarce early brass lantern timepiece lantern clock by Josph Knibb (English, 1640-1711), made circa 1655-1660, with a “Lothbury” frame, 15 inches tall, with a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.
Furniture will include a mid-to-late 18th century American-made Queen Anne mahogany highboy or dresser on a stand, unmarked, 77 ¼ inches tall, having a molded cornice in two parts, expected to sell for $4,000-$6,000; and a circa 1970s Mid-Century Modern sofa made by Milo Baughman (Am., 1923-2003) for Thayer Coggin (American, founded 1953), upholstered in the original amethyst velvet and having a rectangular back, 75 ½ inches wide, with a $2,000-$4,000 estimate.
Previews will be held Monday through Thursday, Jan. 9-12, from 10-6; and on Friday, Jan. 13, from 10-2. A preview party will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12, that will run from 6 pm until 9 pm.
Ahlers & Ogletree is a multi-faceted, family-owned business that spans the antiques, estate sale, wholesale, liquidation, auction and related industries. Ahlers & Ogletree is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at 404-869-2478; or, you can send them an e-mail, to [email protected].
To learn more about Ahlers & Ogletree and the firm’s upcoming New Year’s Signature Estates Auction planned for Jan. 14-16, visit www.AandOAuctions.com. Updates are posted often. You can also follow Ahlers & Ogletree on social media, on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.