On Feb. 18 and 19, Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif., presented to the market important fine art and prints and the first installment of select decorative art and furnishings deaccessed from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). The sale achieved $2 million, and the collection from the Metropolitan Museum of Art soared past estimates, achieving $285,000. “There was broad interest in this auction, and we saw a strong sell-through in most categories,” said Redge Martin, president of Clars, following the auction.
Fine Art
The highlight of the fine art offerings was the first ever public offering of two early Wayne Thiebaud (American, b. 1920) paintings: Thiebaud’s 1958 “Watermelon Slice,” a casein-on-board, and “Skyline” (New York City), 1956, a tempera-on-board painting. The market responded strongly to both of these works, with “Watermelon Slice” selling for $78,650 and “Skyline” soaring to almost twice its high estimate, going out at $48,400.
A great surprise of the sale was the price achieved on a watercolor by Chiura Obata (American/Japanese, 1885-1975). Titled “Monterey Cypress on the Cliffs of Pebble Beach” (1948), a watercolor and gouache-on-silk, the piece was expected to sell for $4,000-$6,000, but competitive bidding drove the final sale price to $33,275.
Several other works performed well, including “Portrait of Woman with Yellow Head Wrap,” an oil-on-canvas by Russian artist Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955), that sold for $45,375. Selling for high estimate at $25,410 was a work by Thomas Hill (American, 1829-1908), titled “At Foot of Bridal Veil Falls.” Capturing the same price was Patrick Hughes’ (American, b. 1939) oil-on-board titled “Personspective” (2003).
Rounding out the fine art highlights was “California Vista,” an oil-on-canvas by artist William Wendt (American, 1865-1946), which sold for $22,990, and a work by artist Gregory Kondos (American, b. 1923), whose oil-on-canvas titled “Greek Windmill” brought $21,780. An oil-on-canvas from Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933) titled “Orientalist Scene with Figures and Tent” realized $16,940. A work by Joseph Raphael (American, 1869-1950), titled “Clearing Through the Trees,” sold for $12,100; “Fallen Stag” by artist Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905) brought $12,100, and a sculpture by artist Jeff Koons (American, b. 1955) titled “Balloon” sold for $11,495.
A collection of museum quality fine art prints from a privately held single-owner collection from Piedmont, Calif., was another highlight of this sale. By one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated artists, Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-1993), his woodblock print titled “Blue with Red,” 1987, opened at $15,000 and sold for $42,350. A portfolio of six screen prints, “Untitled,” 1951, by artist Jackson Pollock (American, 1912-56), sold well for $22,990, and achieving $15,730 was “Swoonarie” (from Imaginary Places) by artist Frank Stella (American, b. 1936).
“While we had a very important collection of exceptional Post War prints which sold very well, it was good to see strength across the board in all categories,” said Rick Unruh, vice president and director of Fine Art.
Decorative Arts and Furnishings
On day two, Clars presented the first installment of approximately 100 lots of select property from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City). This collection, which is being sold to benefit the museum’s acquisition fund, was comprised of both decorative art pieces and furniture. “We were both surprised and impressed that the number of winning international bidders surpassed the number of domestic bidders. This really validates the importance of the provenance of these pieces as well as the global reach of Clars’ marketing on behalf of our clients,” said Deric Torres, vice president and director of Decorative Arts and Furnishings.
The furniture collection was well received. The top lot of this collection was a 17th century Italian refectory table that was estimated to sell for $4,000-$6,000, sbut sold for $42,350. Among the Jacobean highlights was an English Jacobean/Charles II oak games table, 17th/18th century, that was estimated at $800-$1,200, selling for $16,940. An English Jacobean cabinet, late 17th /18th century, realized $12,100. In addition, a French Gothic Revival walnut hall chair, late 18th /early 19th century, also brought $12,100, and an English gate-leg table executed in quartersawn oak, circa 1780, commanded $5,747.
The property from the museum also consisted of porcelains and decorative art. The top seller in this category was a pair of French rouge royal marble and gilt bronze urns, 19th century, after Pierre Gouthiere (1732-1813). These urns sold for $18,150. Among the other offerings was a Josiah Wedgwood and Sons lidded jasperware urn on pedestal, 1782, which sold for $13,310. A Josiah Wedgwood and Sons covered vase and pedestal realized $7,260.
A large grouping of fine antique wall brackets were offered that also achieved robust prices. The strongest was a pair of Renaissance Revival walnut wall brackets, circa 1870, which sold for $6,655. Also presented was a selection of sterling silver, including an Early Continental silver covered chalice that realized $6,655 and a George III sterling silver salver, London, 1806, that brought $6,050.
An additional collection that was offered in the February sale was property from the estate of Thomas J. Perkins, San Francisco, and Belvedere, Calif. Highlights included a Lwalwa D.R. Congo carved wood mask that sold for $10,890 and a Spanish Baroque carved giltwood mirror, late 17th century, that sold for $9,075.
The remaining highlights were both fine and eclectic, including a Chinese gilt bronze triple Fusee eight bell musical automaton bracket clock that brought $36,300. A pair of English sterling silver wine coolers with liners by Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd., London, 1838, sold for $18,150. The largest sized auction highlight was a monumental Renaissance style patinated bronze fountain, mid-20th century. Reaching a height of 115 inches, the fountain commanded $12,100. There was also a selection of modern furniture that was led by a Paul Evans patchwork cabinet with slate top that realized $10,890.
A group of carousel horses also sold well. A Carmel outer row stander carousel horse with full armor original to Eldridge Park Carousel of Elmira, N.Y. (last ridden in 1924) realized $18,150. A large and exceptional outer row stander carousel horse by Daniel Muller, circa 1909, (this example was the lead horse at Waldameer Park Carousel in Erie, Pa.) brought $16,940.
Jewelry and Timepieces
Fine jewelry had a 100 percent sell-through rate. The top lot in this category was a diamond and yellow gold slide pendant necklace, selling for $19,360. Coming to the sale from the estate of the former owners of the Highlands Inn (Carmel, Calif.) was a diamond and white gold necklace that featured 76 full cut diamonds that also achieved over high estimate.
Asian Arts and Antiques
Huanghuali furniture once again topped this category’s offerings. A Chinese huanghuali and hardwood display cabinet sold for $12,100. A Chinese Claire de lune dragon form vase sold for $8,470, and a Japanese cloisonné vase brought $7,865.
For more information and complete list of prices realized, visit www.clars.com.