Rare Indian highly carved ivory tusk, 18th/19th century, 41 inches high. Provenance: Graham Ponte Ltd., London; George W. Headley III, 1968; Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Neal Auction Co. image.
“The Headley-Whitney consignment represents one of the finest single-owner consignments of Asian objects we have ever seen in New Orleans. The auction represents a rare opportunity to acquire objects with such impeccable provenance,” said Neal Alford, president of Neal Auction Co.
Highlights from the Headley-Whitney Museum consignment include six Chinese carved rhinoceros horn libation cups dated to the 17th and 18th centuries (lots 104, 105, 624, 625, 626, and 627); a rare and exceptional “eccentric” carved hardwood libation cup (lot 106), formerly in the de Menasce collection, London; a pair of carved bamboo libation cups (lot 623); and a buffalo horn cup (lot 107).
Chinese fine art from the Headley-Whitney Museum includes two hanging scrolls, which were acquired in 1967 at Parke-Bernet where they were attributed to Ma Lin (lot 100) and Emperor Song Huizong (lot 101), as well as a massive painting of a “Court Gathering” (lot 99).
Chinese porcelain and pottery from the collection runs the gamut, dating from the 13th century to the 1930s. Highlights include a Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) junyao bowl, formerly in the Mottahedeh collection (lot 133); a pair of anhua decorated white glazed “eggshell” porcelain conical bowls with Yongle marks (lot 644); a ko-sometsuke fish-form dish (lot 645); a rare, 17th century blue and white porcelain covered jar (lot 646); and extensive collections of blue and white porcelain vases, dishes, bowls, saucers, teacups, wine cups and chargers.
Chinese textiles from the Headley-Whitney Museum collection are highlighted by a rare kesi robe decorated en grisaille with numerous orchid sprays on a yellow ground (lot 604); a blue silk nine-dragon robe (lot 118); and a monumental red silk hall hanging with Shoulao and the Eight Immortals (lot 652).
Chinese furniture includes a pair of gilt decorated, black lacquer armchairs (lot 649) which George W. Headley III, the founder of the Headley-Whitney Museum, used in his jewelry and bibelot boutique at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles during the 1930s, and a pair of brown lacquer barrel stools (lot 650).
Other objects being offered from the Headley-Whitney Museum include a spectacularly carved 18th/19th century Indian ivory tusk (lot 95); an 18th century Turkish Ottoman embroidered red silk wall hanging (lot 94); and an illuminated Quran, dated 1780 (lot 93).
The Headley-Whitney Museum’s chief administrator and curator of collections, Amy Greene, wrote: “the Headley-Whitney Museum is currently working to concentrate its holdings, in order to preserve the museum and its treasures for the benefit of future generations.”
The Headley Museum was founded by George W. Headley III, on his family estate, La Belle Farm, near Lexington, Ky., in 1968. The name Whitney was added in the 1970s when Mrs. Headley’s brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, became a patron. George W. Headley III was best known for his jewelry creations and bibelots, which comprise the museum’s core collection.
For details email Bettine Carroll at estates@nealauction.com or phone 504-899-5329.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Rare Indian highly carved ivory tusk, 18th/19th century, 41 inches high. Provenance: Graham Ponte Ltd., London; George W. Headley III, 1968; Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Neal Auction Co. image. Chinese carved rhinoceros horn libation cup, 18th century, 4 1/8 inches high Provenance: George W. Headley III, circa 1970; to the Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Neal Auction Co. image. Chinese carved rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th/18th century, 2 1/2 inches high. Provenance: George W. Headley III, circa 1970; the Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Neal Auction Co. image. Rare Chinese ‘Eccentric’ carved hardwood libation cup, 17th/18th century, 4 1/4 inches high. Provenance: George W. Headley III, 1971; the Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Exhibited: George de Menasce Collection, Spink & Son, London, May 10-26, 1971. Estimate: $2,500-$3,500. Neal Auction Co. image. Chinese School, ‘Court Gathering,’ ink, color and gilt on silk, bearing signature of Qiu Ying, 60 inches x 117 1/4 inches. Provenance: George W. Headley III; Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Neal Auction Co. image. Rare ‘Ko-Sometsuke’ blue and white porcelain fish form dish, 2 1/8 inches high. Provenance: Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, KY. Estimate: $600-$800. Neal Auction Co. image. Chinese yellow silk Kesi robe, 54 inches long. Provenance: Alma Headley de Waal, circa 1931; Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington, Ky. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Neal Auction Co. image.
