Crescent City's Important Estates Auction Sept. 19-20 features fine items in an array of categories

NEW ORLEANS - Sept. 5, 2025 - PRLog -- An oil on canvas portrait painting by acclaimed British artist Jonathan Richardson (1665-1745); an oil painting by the legendary Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter (1887-1988); and a selection of fine watches (including Rolexes) are just part of Crescent City Auction Gallery's Important Estates Auction planned for the weekend of September 19-20.

The sale will be held online as well as live in the Crescent City showroom located at 1330 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, starting at 10am Central Time both days. In all, 696 lots will come up for bid, featuring property from the estates of William and Beverly (Gallo) Caulffield and William Prentice Farrington, both of New Orleans, and other fine local and regional estates.

Achille Gallo was a New Orleans-born musician, artist and marathon runner whose collection of musical instruments, gathered from around the world, is legendary. Three of his instruments are in the auction, all of them attributions: a violin made by Henry Bentin (New Orleans, 1852-1925, estimate: $800-$1,200); a violin made by Ferdinando Gagliano (Italian, 1738-1834, estimate: $500-$1,000); and a violincello made by Sebastiene Vuilaume (French, 1835-1875, estimate: $300-$600). All have cases. Gallo's descendants – the Caulffields – consigned the instruments.

The oil portrait by Jonathan Richardson is titled Portrait of Mrs. Hooper and possibly depicts Lady Dorothy Hooper (1680-1749), the daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the 2^nd Earl of Shaftesbury. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $5,000-$10,000. The vibrant oil painting by Clementine Hunter is titled Picking Cotton and is expected to change hands for $4,000-$8,000.

The rest of the catalog is an eclectic mix of items, ranging from a selection of rifles, pistols, shotguns and other weapons; to estate jewelry items, including sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, seed pearls, yellow gold bracelets and more; to Mexican and American gold coins; to a Blazer Bay 186 center console boat with Yamaha V4 115 outboard motor (estimate: $3,000-$5,000).

Internet bidding will be provided by www.CrescentCityAuctionGallery.com (and the Crescent City app), as well as LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee bids will be accepted. In-gallery previews will be held beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10, through Thursday, Sept. 18, excluding weekend days, from 10am-5pm Central Time. No appointment is necessary. Absentee and phone bids will be accepted until 1 pm Central Time the day before the auction.

For more info visit www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.