OAKLAND, Calif. Clars’ Nov. 16-17 auction presented important designs in modern furniture, an extensive collection of solid gold bars and silver and gold coins, impressive fine art and jewelry. The national and international markets responded vigorously to the investment-level property that was offered. In addition, the second installment of the Robin Leach featured a select offering from his personal paperweight collection that totaled $14,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
The undoubted showpiece of the numismatic collection was a UBS 1-kilo gold bar, 9999 24K pure gold (below) that sold for an impressive $43,000. The extensive numismatic collection was composed of over 500 solid gold coins from countries around the world as well as two albums of Morgan silver dollars. The collection had a 100% sell-through with most lots surpassing high estimate and selling for a total of $257,000.
Exceptional design in modern furniture was featured prominently at this sale with the highlight of the entire auction being a rare Finn Juhl for Neils Vodder Chieftain chair. Executed in black leather, this chair was signed with the branded manufacturer’s mark “Neils Vodder Cabinetmaker Copenhagen, Denmark.” This chair quickly soared past its $30,000-$50,000 estimate and sold for $79,950.
Among the other highlights in the furniture offerings was a set of two Kofod-Larsen Danish/Swedish Modern Seal lounge chairs that earned $6,150 followed by a Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller ESU desk and cabinet that sold for $5,227.
Two impressive surprises were found in this category. A German Black Forest tall-case clock (below) was expected to sell for $6,000-$9,000. Collectors vied heatedly for this highly carved case with two bears surmounting the brass-silvered dial with Arabic markers driving the final sale price to $33,825.
During the Saturday session, a Continental white porcelain figure of Hercules titled Sardanapalo Vaticano from the W.K. Vanderslice Estate of San Francisco was expected to sell for $200. The bidding opened at $50 at within minutes, bidders drove the price higher and higher to an astonishing $18,450.
Works by European artists led the fine art category with the top seller being the oil on canvas by Mihaly Munkacsy (Hungarian, 1844-1900) titled The Good Samaritan, which sold for $17,220. From France, Remy Blanchard’s (1958-1993) oil on canvas titled VI, 1987, also performed well fetching $14,760.
Turning to America, a most impressive work by David Hitchcock (American, 1861-1943) titled Hanalei Bay, Kauai, 1931, was offered to the public for the first time in over 60 years and the art world responded driving the price on this work to $12,300.
Rounding out the Fine Art highlights was the oil on canvas titled Past Memories by G. (Gerald Harvey Jones) Jones (American, 1933-2017) that went off for $12,300 as did the 1964 etching by Wayne Thiebaud (American, b. 1920) titled Gum Machine.
The jewelry department had a strong sale with several pieces achieving prices over their estimates. The highlight of the evening was a beautiful 32 carat cushion-cut yellow sapphire mounted in a delicate leaf motif diamond and 18K yellow gold mounting. There was active bidding in the room, on-line and on the phone for this ring, which ultimately hammered down at $8,000, far exceeding its $4,000-$6,000 preliminary sale estimate.
Two whimsical necklaces also performed well. A diamond, black onyx, platinum and 18K yellow gold “Polka Dot” necklace by Michael Bondanza, which showcased his signature modern style sold for $5,000. There was also a diamond and 18K white gold necklace designed with a graduated row of elephants that sold for $7,500.
An elegant Omega 18k yellow gold Constellation wristwatch with a diamond-enhanced bezel saw active bidding and finally hammered down within estimate at $4,500.
For details contact Clars at info@clars.com.
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