Equine-theme collection gallops to Golden Sun auction, Feb. 26
Lladro horse sculpture titled ‘Born Free,’ estimated at $200-$1,000
FULLERTON, Calif. – A collection of horse-related items and other objects from the estate of John Barr, who was heavily involved in the horseracing industry during the last half-century, will appear in a live online auction scheduled for Sunday, February 26 by Golden Sun Auctions, Inc. (formerly Appraisal & Estate Sale Specialists), at 12 noon Pacific time / 3 pm Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Barr was the owner of Oakcrest Stables, the former director of Oak Tree Racing Association and president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He was originally an oil man and real estate developer, but later became a prominent breeder who had several winning race horses. Some of his trophies will come up for bid in the auction.
His love of horses is evident in the collection, which ranges from Lladro to Tiffany and everything in between. The Barrs loved art, whether it was displayed on shelves or hung on a wall, such as an original LeRoy Neiman jockey painting from 1965. The expressionist painting is artist-signed and estimated at $2,000-$20,000.
14K gold, sapphire and diamond ring, estimated at $5,000-$10,000
From Barr’s wife comes a fine selection of jewelry, some featuring horses. Standouts include a 1.8-carat diamond ring set in 18K gold and platinum, estimated at $4,000-$20,000; and a 14K gold, sapphire and diamond ring with six deep blue sapphires, estimated at $5,000-$10,000.
18K gold, diamond and emerald horse brooch, estimated at $1,000-$2,000
Equestrian-themed jewelry pieces are led by a darling 18K gold horse brooch encrusted in diamonds weighing 2.25 carats, plus an emerald for an eye, estimated at $1,000-$2,000; and a pair of earrings that are 1.04-carat diamond studs, with the diamonds cut into horse heads, estimated at $400-$800.
William Robinson Leigh painting, estimated at $500-$10,000
A wonderful signed painting from William Robinson Leigh (American, 1866-1955), featuring a cowboy wrangling a steer, has an estimate of $500-$10,000. Also, a 1984 oil on canvas by the New Zealand impressionist artist Peter Williams (1934-2018), titled Breeding Barn – Greentree Stud Farm, Kentucky, purchased at the Racing Scene Gallery, has an estimate of $200-$1,200.
Frederick E. Hart, ‘The Ride,’ estimated at $500-$1,500
An amazing 1990 sculpture from artist Frederick E. Hart (1943-1999), titled The Ride, #330 of 350, depicting a woman on horseback and etched with Hart’s signature on the bottom, is estimated at $500-$1,500; while a stunning Lladro horse sculpture titled Born Free, originally made in 1982 and still in production today, has an estimate of $200-$1,000.
Kirk Stieff sterling silver trophy for Bountiful Dreamer (owned by John Barr), winner of the California Cup Distaff horse race held in Oct. 1998, estimated at $600-$1,000
A Kirk Stieff sterling silver trophy for Bountiful Dreamer (owned by John Barr), winner of the California Cup Distaff horse race held on Oct. 31, 1998, carries an estimate of $600-$1,000. Also, a metal rustic-finish table created by the visual artist Elizabeth Maria Becker (b. 1942-) of Taos, New Mexico, showing an abstract horse with a landscape background, is estimated at $200-$1,000.
Elizabeth Maria Becker metal table, estimated at $200-$1,000
Barr and his wife were avid travelers and picked up a wonderful assortment of horse- and non-horse-related decorative pieces, including vintage and antique items from countries such as Japan and China. A standout among them is a large circa-19th -century Chinese soapstone carving with a carved poem. The pale celadon-tone stone with iron red blended passages features a carving of a hatted scholar sheltering in a cave with stalactites. Its estimate is $200-$800.
Circa-19th-century Chinese soapstone carving, estimated at $200-$800
Speaking of Asian pieces, the auction will also feature items from an avid collector, including porcelains, wood and jade carvings from the Han dynasty, Ming dynasty and Guangxu of the Qing dynasty, as well as an assortment of fine jewelry and pieces from a Japanese designer shop near downtown Los Angeles that closed in the early 1970s.
To inquire about consigning a single item, an estate or a collection to Golden Sun Auctions, Inc., call Dan Wilson or Suki Hilger at 714-916-8119, or email them at estatesalemandan@gmail.com. To learn more about Golden Sun Auctions, please log on to https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/278272_fine-jewelry-horse-asian-antiques-artwork/.
Click to view top auction results on LiveAuctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
