On June 18, Clars Auction Gallery hosted an important Asian art and antiques sale as part of its two-day June 17 and 18 larger Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry/Timepieces and Asian Art Auction. This sale was expected to draw strong national and international bidding on the exceptional single works and collections that were offered, but in the end, this sale exceeded all predictions, realizing over $5 million and shattering presale estimates not only in the Asian offerings, but in all categories.
“I had called this a Hot June Auction. And it turned out to be very hot – hot sales, hot temperature,” said Redge Martin, president of Clars, following the sale.
Asian Art and Antiques
The star of this special sale was a group of eight scrolls by Chinese artist Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, 1899-1983). This collection of eight scrolls included landscape paintings, ink and color on paper and one executed with colophon to celebrate Shaoyun (Ma Hongkui) General’s birthday. All were signed and sealed Zhang Daqian and were offered as one lot with an estimate of $200,000 to $400,000. Open to phone and floor bidders only, it was clear from the start that this was going to be an exciting lot to watch, as heated bidding quickly drove this lot higher and higher to finally land at its selling price of $2,919,000.
Astonishing prices on Asian art and antiques continued through the sale. Next, in porcelain, a celadon glazed porcelain zhadou with a lobed hexagonal body rising to a trumpet neck and bearing the Yonzheng mark was offered for $20,000 to $40,000. Its final sale price was $169,400.
Following this lot, a Himalayan gilt bronze of Vaisravana, the base marked with a double vajra, was expected to achieve $4,000 to $6,000. The bidding opened at $2,000 but was quickly left in the dust as this lot came to rest at $57,475. Earning the same strong price was a Chinese bamboo vase with trumpet neck.
Then came the extensive collection of Chinese Huanghuali furniture, which also performed well beyond expectations. Topping this collection was a pair of tall cabinets that realized $102,850. Next, and flying past high estimate, was an altar table that sold for $66,500; a Chinese large desk that sold for $51,475, and more than doubling its high estimate was another smaller Chinese desk that sold for $48,400. Clars has developed an international reputation for obtaining outstanding prices on Chinese Huanghuali furniture.
And the surprises kept coming. From the estate of Lim Kee Chin, the former Singapore Trade Commissioner, a Chinese tianhuang seal measuring just 1.25-inches high sold for three times high estimate, achieving $22,900.
In all, the 124 lots of exceptional Asian art and antiques offered realized a $4,022,000 total.
Decorative Arts – Important Numismatic Collection
A collection of 19th and 20th century U.S. gold and silver coins plus territorial gold and bulk silver coins in 46 lots performed well and was the highlight of this category. This important collection earned $134,200 in total, with the top lot being a slabbed 1909 O $5 MS62 gold U.S. coin NGC certified, which sold for $45,375. Taking second place was a lot of 2 - 2012 U.S. Mint bullion silver dollar cases unopened, 500 coins per case, that earned $20,570.
Selling for over 10 times high estimate was an 1850 $5 marked XF Liberty Head gold U.S. coin slab, which sold for $12,100.
Fine Art
Fine Art had an impressive sale on day two, with several works surpassing their estimates. The top seller in this category was an oil-on-canvas by Nikolai Fechin (1881-1955). Titled “Portrait of a Boy,” this work sold for $30,250.
Selling for well over high estimate was “Kerrville (Texas),” a 1952 oil-on-canvas by Robert Wood (1889-1979). Expected to achieve $20,000, this painting commanded $29,040.
A nice surprise was also an oil-on-board by Joaquin Sorolla Y Bastida (1863-1923). Titled “La Playa de Valencia,” from 1918, this work was offered for $1,500-$2,500, but went for $26,620.
Rounding out the fine art top sellers was “Donner Lake Near Truckee, California, Looking Westward Towards the Sierras,” circa 1872, an oil-on-board by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) that also topped high estimate and realized $13,310.
Jewelry and Timepieces
Rolex took the lead in this category’s offerings. A Rolex Yacht Master II diamond and 18-carat yellow gold wristwatch, post 2010, was estimated to sell for $8,000 to $10,000, but sold for $19,360. A Rolex Blue Submariner, two-tone, circa 2008, also surpassed high estimate, ticking off at $8,470.
Also surpassing high estimate was a yellow sapphire, ruby and 14-carat yellow gold dragon suite comprised of a necklace and pair of earrings that earned $7,260; a diamond and 18-carat yellow gold necklace brought $6,655, as did an emerald, diamond and yellow gold convertible drop necklace. In addition, an unusual collection of Victorian Egyptian Revival Scarab bracelets, earrings, pendant and brooch earned far more than expected. Every jewelry lot sold.
For a complete list of results and prices realized for this entire sale, visit www.clars.com.
Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, Calif.