OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars’ November sale of fine art, decorative, jewelry and Asian Art sale achieved an impressive $1.85 million with fine art leading earning just over $1 million. Decorative arts and furnishings performed strongly as well, propelled by property from the Christian deGuigné IV Collection and the California Academy of Sciences.
Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com
“The very notable fine art results were fueled by the level of works offered and numerous outperformers throughout the course of the sale,” said Rick Unruh, vice president and director of fine art at Clars.
The premier offering in this category was the impressive painting, Boothbay Garden, (above) by New Hope, Pennsylvania artist, Edward Willis Redfield (1869-1965), regarded as one of the great American Impressionist painters. The art community took notice of this work, which had been held privately for the past 47 years. Bidding opened at $75,000 and quickly escalated to a final sale price of $190,400.
The second highest price for an artist was achieved on Receiving the Love Note (below) by Jerry Barrett (British, 1814-1906). This lovely oil on canvas earned $47,600.
Several works offered resulted in final sale prices that far exceeded estimates. Among these exciting outperformers was an oil on canvas board by Samuel Isham (American, 1855-1914). Titled An Afternoon Tennis Match, this work (below) was expected to achieve a high of $2,000 but sold for over 8 times its estimate for $16,600.
Continuing the trend was an oil on canvas by Martha Walter American, (1875-1976). Ladies at the Beach was offered for $20,000-$30,000 but sold for $38,675. Blue Mountain Vista, an oil on canvas by Albert Bierstadt (American, 1830-1902), surpassed its high estimate achieving $24,990, and America’s most loved comic strip, Peanuts, grabbed the hearts of the bidders. Charles Schulz’s nine-panel pen and ink drawing for a Sunday comic strip from 1958 sold at $35,700.
Decorative arts and furnishings were highlighted by the strong results of the initial offering of property from the Christian deGuigné IV Collection, which realized a total of $130,900. During the Saturday session, a circa 1912 Wurlitzer coin-operated Orchestrion (below), was offered for $2,000-$4,000. Presale interest fueled the opening bid to $5,500 and quickly escalated to the sale price of $14,280.
A featured attraction from the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, was a collection of patinated bronze figural sculptures designed by Thomas John Kent and installed in 1923. Each depicted seahorses and were original to the Steinhart Aquarium in Golden Gate Park. This collection sold for a total of $40,519.
Clars offered a selection of lighting including a Tiffany Studios New York patinated bronze and Favrile glass chandelier, executed in the Moorish taste, first quarter 20th century. Estimated to achieve $8,000-$12,000, this lighting fixture was among the surprises of the sale, realizing $17,850.
A Carlo Bugatti (Italian, 1856-1940) plant stand made of ebonized wood, vellum, and hammered copper sold for well over its high estimate for $14,280 to a bidder utilizing the LiveAuctioneers bidding platform.
Topping the jewelry category was a diamond and 14K white gold ring centering a round brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 4.62 carats, which sold for $13,090.
For more information email Clars Auction Gallery: info@clars.com
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.