Ahlers & Ogletree, the Atlanta-based auction house, will dive right into 2025 with a two-day New Year’s Signature Estates auction on Wednesday and Thursday, January 15-16. The auction is loaded with an array of items that includes Asian art, 19th century furniture, fine and decorative arts, and collectible sports memorabilia.
In all, close to 800 premier lots will cross the auction block, starting promptly at 10 AM ET both days, online and live in the Ahlers & Ogletree gallery located at 1788 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard NW in Atlanta. Online bidding will be available at bid.AandOauctions.com, as well as LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.
January 15 features many fine Asian items, led by a pair of polychrome-painted standing arhats on integral lotus pedestals, likely from the Ming Dynasty, both 49 inches tall. The youthful Ananda is dressed in layered flowing robes, hands joined in a gesture of devotion; Kasyapa, the elder figure, is shown with hands clasped at the chest, with surfaces painted in colorful tones (est. $8,000-$16,000).
Another noteworthy Asian lot from day 1 is a Chinese, Qing Dynasty, polychrome painted seated Guanyin Bodhisattva with a calm facial expression, 48 inches tall, resting in a royal ease pose on a rocky base, the right leg pendent and the left leg bent with the left hand resting on the shin, the right hand raised in Shuni Mudra, dressed in flowing robes with a beaded necklace (est. $6,000-$8,000).
January 16 will showcase an array of fine art from many established estates. One is an untitled (Figures at Work) watercolor on paper by Charles Henry Demuth (American, 1883-1935), circa 1934, signed and dated to the lower right “C. Demuth ’34,” with a Strathmore Student blind stamp to the lower left. The 11-inch by 15-inch work (paper, less frame) should finish at $5,000-$7,000.
The other is a circa 1945 gouache on paper by Athos Rudolfo Menaboni (Italian/American, 1895-1990), titled Mourning Dove. The 38-1/4-inch by 28-3/4-inch (paper, less frame) painting is signed lower left and titled lower center. It is accompanied by a handwritten letter from the consignor, detailing his personal encounter with Menaboni, and an authentication on verso (est. 4,000-$8,000).
Day 2 will feature a selection of exquisite Tiffany lots, to include an early 20th century Favrile bronze mounted pottery vase, 6-1/2 inches in height, having a mossy green glaze over a bulbous earthenware vase and silvered copper scroll and foliate decorated mount. It’s incised interconnected “LCT,” “B.P. 367,” “L.C. Tiffany - Favrile Bronze Pottery” to the underside (est. $3,000-$5,000).
Returning to Session 1, a 19th century French parcel ebonized bureau Mazarin kneehole desk in the Louis XIV taste, having shell veneer boulle work with figural, floral, and arabesque brass inlay, seven drawers, and a fall-front compartment, all rising on baluster legs with a stretcher on bun feet, unmarked and acquired from Sotheby’s in the 1970s, is expected to hammer for $5,000-$10,000.
A monumental, untitled (The Virgin and Christ Child with St. Augustine or St. Ambrose and St. Francis) Italian School oil on canvas painting, rendered 19th century or earlier, unsigned and measuring a stout 68-3/4 inches by 54-1/4 inches (canvas, less frame), should make $4,000-$6,000.
A 20th century 8-panel partial run (panels 1, 5, 6, and 17-20) of Hindustan hand-blocked scenic wallpaper by Zuber et Cie (French, founded 1797), depicting a lush romanticized Indian landscape, unmarked, the largest section 60-1/2 inches by 138-1/4 inches and the smaller section 60-1/2 inches by 56-1/2 inches, from a 1,265-wooden block scene carved in 1807, should command $4,000-$6,000.
A contemporary composition parcel gilt center table in the Baroque taste, possibly Continental, having a circular tessellated abalone and mixed stone pietra dura top (inlaid with precious or semi-precious stones), supported by three winged female figures on C-form legs centering on a floral filled urn, all rising on disc feet, the top 48 inches in diameter, has an estimate of $3,000-$5,000.
A Lalique (French, founded 1888) limited edition Poseidon crystal vase, 11-3/4 inches tall, with green seahorse figural handles and rising bubbles, signed and numbered “05” of 99, accompanied by paperwork, the original box, foam and Lalique tying ribbon, should achieve $4,000-$6,000.
Back over to Session 2, where a palatial Victorian mahogany and glass display case made in America or England in the late 19th or early 20th century, with a shaped cornice over a dentil frieze supported on a glass body, 101-1/2 inches tall by 124 inches deep, has an estimate of $2,000-$4,000.
In the sports memorabilia category, an official National League baseball signed on the sweet spot circa 1942-1946 by Joe Gordon (1915-1978), a Hall of Fame member class of 2009, the ball certified in 2023 by JSA, housed in a plastic presentation holder, should garner $3,000-$5,000.
An untitled (Maritime Scene) oil on canvas marine painting by Lemuel Eldred (MA, 1848-1921), signed lower right and 9 inches by 12 inches (canvas, less frame), should sell for $1,500-$3,000.
An Indian room-size, hand-woven Heriz rug from the 20th century, having a floral design with a center medallion decorated in colors blue, red, tan, brown and green with an indigo center field, unsigned and impressive at 20 feet long by 19 feet 3 inches wide, is estimated at $1,500-$3,000.
A preview will be held on Monday and Tuesday, January 13-14, from 10 AM to 5 PM ET, in the Ahlers & Ogletree gallery. No appointment is necessary. The public is invited.
Ahlers & Ogletree is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions, especially Modern art, Asian arts and artifacts, and luxury jewelry and accessories. To discuss consigning a single item, an estate or a collection, they can be reached at (404) 869-2478 or consign@AandOauctions.com.
More details about Ahlers & Ogletree and the two-day New Year’s Signature Estates auction are available at www.aandoauctions.com. Updates are posted frequently. Ahlers & Ogletree is also on social media at Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.