OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery will present an outstanding work by Piet Mondrian on Sunday, May 20, as the hightlight of their Important Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction. This important painting will be offered along with several other investment-level works and property, which come to this sale from museums, estates and collections. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
A painting, hidden from the public for several generations, will surely have the art world talking as this piece has never before come to public offering. The work by Piet Mondrian (Dutch, 1872-1944), titled Cottages Along the River Gein Lined with Trees, circa 1905, (above) was created just after the Fauvist movement began to inspire the already Impressionistic influences in his work.
The movement, which began in 1904, is seen in the bright pinks, reds and blues in the river Gein, contrasted by the very Hague school style of the cottages along the river in the painting. Cows depicted in the distance are just globs of white and black if observed closely. This work was created right before Mondrian dropped one of the a’s in his last name to become more accepted by the Parisian Avant-Garde. Therefore, by its signature “Mondriaan,” the work must have been painted around 1905 as he left for Paris and dropped the a to become Mondrian in 1906. This work is a fascinating look into the naturalistic period of the young artist’s changing style on the brink of breaking into the Neoplasticist movement for which he is now most famous. This historically rich painting will be offered for $300,000-$500,000.
The Fine Art offerings in this sale will present a number of other important works. Highlighting the Latin American section of the sale will be a large collection of outstanding oil paintings, works on paper, and prints from the Mexican Museum (San Francisco). Among the artists represented will be Byron Galvez (Mexican, 1941-2009), Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886-1957), Francisco Zuniga (Mexican, 1912-1998), Rufino Tamayo (Mexican, 1899-1991), Miguel Covarrubias (Mexican, 1904-1957) and David Alfaro Siqueiros (Mexican, 1896-1974).
Having held some of the highest auction records thus far for Contemporary California sculptor Richard MacDonald (American, b. 1946), Clars will be offering six of the artist’s most desired bronzes from a private collection in Vancouver, Canada. MacDonald’s figurative work depicts the beauty of the human body and the spirit behind it with dancers, performers and athletes as his subject matter. One such work depicts the exquisite beauty and physical form of a ballerina in bronze titled Sissone, 2010, which is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.
One of the most beloved cartoonists of all times is Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz (American, 1922-2000). Schulz lived and worked in Santa Rosa, California, where he created daily and Sunday comics featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Sally, Linus and many others. Schultz’s personal secretary for 28 years was Loraine Lytle Webster of Sebastopol, California. Clars is offering seven original inks on paper, United Features Syndicate Inc., daily comics from Webster’s estate. Among the works to be offered will be All right team, let’s show ’em we never give up!…, 1982. Each will offered with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
After the enormous success in its February 2018 auction of a watercolor hammering at $45,000 (from an $8,000-$12,000 estimate), Clars will be offering two more works by Kentucky artist Paul Sawyier (American, 1865-1917). The first, a lovely oil on board titled, Fountain and Formal Garden, will be offered for $30,000-50,000. The second is a bucolic, river sunset scene watercolor titled, Evening on the Elkhorn, which will be offered for $10,000-15,000.
A rare Russian silver and enamel decorated presentation saber and dagger, originally presented to Boris Yeltsin will be offered for $25,000-$35,000. Furthering the fine sterling selection, a pair of French House of Maison Puiforcat sterling silver candelabra(below) is expected to bring $15,000-$20,000, and a custom Tiffany & Co. sterling silver snake vase is valued at $4,000-$6,000.
Clars’ Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction will be held on Saturday and Sunday May 19 and 20. The sales will begin at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time on Saturday and Sunday.
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