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From a private collection this bronze titled ‘Galloping Cherkessians’ by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905) sold for $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

Clars Auction Gallery posts record-setting fine art sale

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
From a private collection this bronze titled ‘Galloping Cherkessians’ by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905) sold for $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

From a private collection this bronze titled ‘Galloping Cherkessians’ by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905) sold for $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery’s monthly fine art sale on Dec. 9 set a world record for a work by Howard Schleeter, and a Raymond Jonson oil on canvas sold for more than five times its high estimate. LiveAuctioneers.com provided the Internet live bidding for the sale

The auction included the exceptional collection of 20th century Southwestern paintings and prints from the estate of Bob Langell of Oakland, Calif., and Albuquerque, N.M.

After the record-breaking sale, Rick Unruh, vice president and director of fine arts at Clars commented, “We were quite impressed by the early 20th century Southwestern art results. … After seeing today’s prices, it does appear that the fine art market is alive and well again and we are very optimistic about what lies ahead for 2013.”

Headlining the sale was the rare painting by Raymond Jonson (American, 1891-1982) titled Arroyo 4 (1922). Coming from the Langell estate, this signed framed oil on board was expected to sell for $12,000 on the high side. Spirited bidding on this work drove the final sale price to $65,175.

Coming in second to Jonson was the beautiful oil on canvas by Southwestern artist Howard Schleeter (1903-1976). Titled Spur Line (Las Vegas, New Mexico-1938), this signed and dated oil on canvas measured 24 inches by 30 inches. Bidding opened on this work at $8,000 but it quickly soared to a new world record for this artist achieving $26,070.

More high achievers from Langell’s collection were works on paper such as a charcoal drawing by Taos artist, Kenneth Miller Adams (1897-1966) titled Portrait of a Young Woman. Estimated to sell for $1,000 to $2,000, it fetched an impressive $7,110.

In the prints category, etchings from the Langell collection also performed well. Taos in Winter by Gene Kloss (American, 1903-1996) soared past its high estimate of $2,000 to a hammer price of $5,036.

Another highlight of the sale came in photography. An early gelatin silver print from 1936 by Brett Weston (American, 1911-1993) titled, Dunes (Oceano, California), flew past its estimate of $5,000 to $7,000 to a price of $17,775.

Equally as impressive, was a vibrant and inscribed acrylic on canvas by Peter Max (American, b. 1937) from 1999 titled Valentine, which sold for $7,702.

The fine arts sale performed vigorously across the board with high prices for both the Langell estate and the other fine art offerings from other fine estates and private collections. Among the bronzes offered from a private collection was Galloping Cherkessians, by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905). This bronze sold nicely for $15,405.

For complete information visit www.clars.com, call 510-428-0100 or email: info@clars.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog, complete with prices realized, at www.liveauctioneers.com.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

From a private collection this bronze titled ‘Galloping Cherkessians’ by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905) sold for $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

From a private collection this bronze titled ‘Galloping Cherkessians’ by Vassili Yacovlevitch Grachev (Russian, 1831-1905) sold for $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

The strongest performer from the Langell collection was this rare painting by Raymond Jonson (American, 1981-1982) titled ‘Arroyo 4 (1922).’ This signed framed oil on board sold for a staggering $65,175. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

The strongest performer from the Langell collection was this rare painting by Raymond Jonson (American, 1981-1982) titled ‘Arroyo 4 (1922).’ This signed framed oil on board sold for a staggering $65,175. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

Achieving a new world record for Southwestern artist Howard Scheeter (1903-1976) was his work titled ‘Spur Line (Las Vegas, New Mexico-1938).’ Expected to achieve up to $12,000, bidding more than doubled its estimate driving it to $26,070. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

Achieving a new world record for Southwestern artist Howard Scheeter (1903-1976) was his work titled ‘Spur Line (Las Vegas, New Mexico-1938).’ Expected to achieve up to $12,000, bidding more than doubled its estimate driving it to $26,070. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This charcoal drawing by Taos artist Kenneth Miller Adams (1897-1966) titled ‘Portrait of a Young Woman,’ more than tripled its high estimate, achieving $7,110. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This charcoal drawing by Taos artist Kenneth Miller Adams (1897-1966) titled ‘Portrait of a Young Woman,’ more than tripled its high estimate, achieving $7,110. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This etching titled ‘Taos in Winter’ by Gene Kloss (American, 1903-1996) soared past its high estimate of $2,000 to a hammer price of $5,036. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This etching titled ‘Taos in Winter’ by Gene Kloss (American, 1903-1996) soared past its high estimate of $2,000 to a hammer price of $5,036. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This early gelatin silver print from 1936 by Brett Weston (American, 1911-1993) titled, ‘Dunes (Oceano, California),’ flew past its estimate of $5,000-$7,000 to an impressive realized price of $17,775. Clars Auction Gallery Image.

This early gelatin silver print from 1936 by Brett Weston (American, 1911-1993) titled, ‘Dunes (Oceano, California),’ flew past its estimate of $5,000-$7,000 to an impressive realized price of $17,775. Clars Auction Gallery Image.