Rare New Orleans Silver Fireman's Speaking Trumpet will Headline Crescent City's Nov. 14-15 Auction

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An exceedingly rare New Orleans .900 silver fireman’s speaking trumpet from 1891, plus original paintings by Clementine Hunter, Sarah Ashley Longshore, Hovsep Pushman and Jose Puyet are just a few of the expected top lots in Crescent City Auction Gallery’s live and online Important Fall Estates Auction slated for the weekend of Nov. 14-15. 

The gallery, at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, will be open for exhibitions beginning Thursday, November 5th, from 10-5 Central time, by appointment only (excluding Sunday). A live Saturday preview will be held November 7th, from 9am to 1pm, also by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call or email. Start times both auction days are 10 am Central time. 

The auction is an eclectic one, with merchandise ranging from carved wooden santos (small statues of saints or angels) to fine estate jewelry (to include diamonds, rubies, sapphires, Tahitian pearls, tanzanite and tourmaline). Also offered will be French and American period furniture, original works of art, French clocks, silver, bronzes and wonderful decorative accessories. 

The 19th century silver fireman’s speaking trumpet is engraved with, “Presented by Star Hook and Ladder Company to Simon Oesterly as a Token of Respect and Acknowledgement of His Services, New Orleans, 1891”. It features a mouthpiece of coin silver, with engraved and repousse oak leaf and acorn decoration and weighs a total 26.4 troy oz. (est. $12,000-$18,000). 

The legendary Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter (1887-1988) will be represented multiple times in the auction, beginning with a circa 1966 oil on board painting titled The Honky Tonk on Cane River, Saturday Night, which has been authenticated by a Hunter expert. The painting, measuring 15 ½ inches by23 ¾ inches, has a reasonable pre-sale estimate of $2,500-$4,500. 

Also from Hunter is an oil on Masonite still-life painting titled Zinnias from 1969, measuring 23 ¾ inches by 9 ¾ inches. (est. $2,000-$4,000); and one lot consisting of two clay ginger beer bottles paint-decorated by the artist, one with zinnias and the other with two figures: a flower and a bird. Both were executed around 1980 and together have a pre-sale estimate of $800-$1,200. 

The mixed media painting by New Orleans artist Sarah Ashley Longshore (b. 1975), popularly known as Ashley Longshore, is titled Audrey Hepburn with Butterflies and is expected to bring $6,000-$9,000. Longshore is a painter, gallery owner and entrepreneur. Her art focuses on pop culture, Hollywood glamour, and American consumerism. She’s been compared to Andy Warhol. 

The oil on board painting signed by Hovsep Pushman (Armenian-American, 1877-1966), titled Armenian Girl (early 20th century) is 11 inches by 8 ½ inches and should garner $2,500-$4,500. Pushman was known for his contemplative still lifes and sensitive portraits of women, often in exotic dress. He was represented by the Grand Central Art Galleries from 1922 until his death. 

The oil on canvas painting by Spanish modern impressionist Jose Puyet (1922-2004), titled In the Salon, 31 inches by 38 ¾ inches, has an estimate of $1,000-$2,500. Puyet lived and worked his entire life in Spain, but his popularity spread to the United States. His paintings can be found in museums and collections. The singer Placido Domingo owns a sizable collection of his work. 

Fine French period furniture will be plentiful and includes these marvelous examples: 

- Large French provincial carved oak monastery table, 19th century (est. $1,200-$1,800)

- Louis XVI-style ormolu mounted mahogany marble-top sideboard (est. $1,200-$1,800)

- French Empire-style carved walnut marble-top commode, 19th century (est. $700-$1,200)

- Belle Epoque Louis XV-style ormolu mounted parquetry inlaid rosewood marble-top bombe secretaire, circa 1900, 55 ¼ inches tall by 29 ¼ inches wide (est. $700-$1,200)

- Bronze line inlaid ormolu mounted table-top vitrine, 20th century (est. $400-$800) 

Original artworks by local and regional artists will feature a watercolor and graphite painting signed by Walter Anderson (Miss., 1903-1965), titled Eggplants (est. $8,000-$12,000); a 1915 painting by Alexander J. Drysdale (New Orleans, 1870-1934), titled Bayou Scene with Moss Draped Oak and Water Lilies (est. $1,500-$2,500); a 1961 oil on Masonite by Mildred “Millie” Wohl (New Orleans, 1906-1977), Painting No. 13 (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a silver gelatin photograph by George Valentine Dureau (New Orleans, 1930-2014), titled Jeffrey Cook (est. $600-$900). 

Paintings by artists outside the U.S. will be headlined by an oil on canvas by the Israeli artist Itzchak Tarkay (1935-2012), titled Tea Time, signed lower right (est. $2,000-$4,000); and an oil on panel by Niek van der Plas (Dutch, b. 1954), titled Horses on the Beach (est. $1,000-$1,500). 

A wood sculpture by Pedro Friedeberg (Mexican, b. 1936), titled Hands and Head, diminutive at just 8 inches in height, should go for $800-$1,200; while a patinated bronze sculpture by Eutrope Bouret (French, 1833-1906) titled Jeanne d’Arc on Horseback, is expected to make $700-$1,200. 

Decorative accessories will be led by a pair of Louis XVI-style gilt bronze mounted gray marble urns, 19th century, each one a foot tall (est. $2,000-$3,000); a large pair of cast iron campana form garden urns, 20th or 21st century, 46 inches tall (est. $1,500-$2,500); and a four-piece sterling tea and coffee set by Gorham in the Buttercup pattern, 55.1 troy oz. (est. $1,200-$2,000). 

Rounding out just a couple more of the weekend’s highlight lots, a 20th century American Empire carved mahogany serpentine curved glass curio cabinet, 64 inches tall by 50 ¾ inches wide, has a pre-sale estimate of $600-$900; while a 19th century Old Paris porcelain figural mantel clock with a blown glass rectangular dome on an ebonized mahogany base should rise to $400-$800. 

The weekend event is packed with 817 quality lots in a variety of collecting categories. Internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and BidSquare.com. Absentee and phone bids will be accepted until 1 pm Central time on Thursday, November 12th. A printed catalog is available; call 504-529-5057 or send an e-mail: info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

For more regarding Crescent City Auction Gallery and the three-day auction scheduled for November 14th and 15th, visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted often.