GEORGE BANJO AT AHLERS & OGLETREE OCT. 6 AUCTION

George Harrison banjo at Ahlers & Ogletree Oct. 6 auction A four-string banjo owned and played by George Harrison will be sold Oct. 6th

A star ruby and diamond spiritual ring owned and worn by Elvis Presley, a four-string banjo owned and played by former Beatle George Harrison and a rare Civil War 36-star “General’s Guide” flag made by Tiffany & Company are just a few of the marquis lots slated to come up for bid at Ahlers & Ogletree’s Fall Estates Auction on Sunday, Oct. 6th. The auction will begin promptly at 11 a.m. (EST) at Ahler’s & Ogletree’s spacious gallery located at 715 Miami Circle (Suite 210) in Atlanta. In all, about 600 lots will be sold, in a rainbow of categories to include fine art, Asian objects, period furniture, estate jewelry, Old Paris and Ridgway porcelain, fine silver, chandeliers, Persian rugs, Beatles fan memorabilia and more. The George Harrison four-string banjo is indistinctly marked on the headpiece, with only the word “London” legible. The banjo, however, comes with a hang tag, identifying the piece as “Lot 289” from Sotheby’s Carousel Sale held June 28, 1986, attesting to its authenticity. Interest in Beatles-related items continues to be strong, as does demand for all things related to the band. There will also be a fine Art Nouveau carved marble sculpture of a female nude, 21 inches tall and 27 inches long. The Asian category will be highlighted by a carved hardstone reclining Quan Yin figure shown resting its hand and holding up its head, wearing a dark-colored robe accented in gold and decorated. The figure is 9 ¾ inches tall and sits on a rectangular plinth. Other star lots include a Thomas Edison Victrola with hand-painted iris decoration in a slate-colored horn; a pair of bronze and marble handled urns with figural relief scenes of young Neoclassical women, marked “Barbedienne,,” each 26 inches tall; and a Sevres bronze mounted center bowl with exterior scenes of a couple courting and two women picking fruit and flowers. For those unable to attend the auction in person, Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Ahlers & Ogletree will be open at 10 a.m. on the days leading up to the sale for viewing and registration. Food and drink will be served at the auction. A buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases made. Ahlers & Ogletree is a multi-faceted, family-owned business that spans the antiques, estate sale, wholesale, liquidation, auction and related industries. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions.