Topping the fine art category will be this important abstract work by Italian artist Parmeggiani Tencredi (1927-1964). ‘Untitled,’ circa 1958, comes to the sale with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery.
“The May sale will be a virtual greatest hits list of Contemporary art,” said Rick Unruh, director of fine art for Clars.
The auction will also feature a fine Victorian bedroom suite made by Pottier & Stymus of New York City.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
Topping the fine art category is an important abstract work by Italian artist Parmeggiani Tancredi (1927-1964) whose work is held in numerous museum collections including the Guggenheim Museum, New York and the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Clars is honored to be offering his large oil on canvas, Untitled, circa 1958, on Sunday, May 20, with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.
From Dutch painter and sculpture Karel Appel (1921-2006), will be his vibrant gouache on paper Blue Nude, estimated at $20,000 to $40,000. Appel’s expressive figuration was greatly influenced by Pablo Picasso, whose masterful printmaking will be represented by a collection of his etchings, lithographs and linoleum cuts including 1933’s Le Repos Du Sculpteur et le Modelis au Masque ($15,000-$20,000) and 1961’s Football ($7,000-$9,000).
An equally as impressive work on paper is a very rare pencil drawing by Laurence Stephen Lowry (British, 1887-1976) depicting his iconic matchstick men entitled Windy Day estimated at $10,000 to $20,000. Additional modern and contemporary offerings include Edmondo Bacci’s (Italian, 1913-1989) oil on canvas Avvenimento ($8,000-$12,000); Walasse Ting’s (American/Chinese/French, 1929-2010) early oil and ink on canvas Chinese Landscape ($10,000-$15,000); Paul Jenkin’s (American/French, b. 1923) watercolor High Point ($6,000-$8,000); and Charles Schulz’s (Californian, 1922-2000) ink on paper daily comic strip Peanuts 8-13-1962 ($10,000-$15,000).
Highly desirable prints included in the sale range from Joan Miro’s (Spanish, 1893-1983) 1964 portfolio of eleven color lithographs Obra Inedita Recent ($7,000-$9,000); to Thomas Hart Benton’s (American, 1889-1975) lithograph Homeward Bound (The Race) ($5,000-$7,000); to Henri Matisse’s (French, 1869-1954) lithograph Le Repos du Modèle ($6,000-$8,000). Additional notable printmakers represented May 20 are Andy Warhol, Jacob Lawrence, Alexander Calder, Rufino Tamayo, Richard Lindner and Marc Chagall.
Impressive examples from the photography department include the work of fashion photographers Horst P. Horst (German/American, 1906-1999) and George Hoyningen-Huene (Russian/American, 1900-1968). Horst’s Mainbocher Corset, Paris ($10,000-$15,000) and Hoyningen-Huene’s Horst Study (Twisted Torso) ($7,000-$9,000) are brilliant examples of 1930s classical capturing of bodily movement on film.
Clars will also offer an outstanding collection of 19th and 20th century sculpture from various prestigious California and Texas collections. Nature Revealing Herself to Science by Louis Ernest Barrias (French, 1841-1905) and La Fantasia Arabe by Prosper LeCourtier (French, 1855-1924) are both estimated at $20,000-40,000. Also featured is Indian Warrior by Western artist, Alexander Phimister Proctor (estimate at $15,000-25,000), as well as Modern and Contemporary pieces by Elizabeth Catlett, Fletcher Benton, Felipe Castaneda, Robert Graham, David Kimball Anderson and many others.
Turning to California art, Hills over the Carmel River by August Gay (1890-1948) is expected to earn $40,000 to $60,000 followed by Figure by Boat by Seldon Connor Gile (1877-1947) estimated at $10,000 to $20,000.
Significant 16th through 19th century European paintings include: The Dead Christ Supported by Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, by a follower of Giovanni Bellini (Italian, 1430-1516) ($12,000-$18,000); Frederico Nerly’s (Italian, 1824-1919) Capri, 1869 ($8,000-$12,000); and Sketching Companions by Henry Hetherington Emmerson (British, 1831-1895) ($15,000-$25,000).
Also to be offered as a highlight of the Fine Art category will be several pieces consigned from the Honolulu Museum of Art.
A highlight of this sale will be an original bedroom suite created by Pottier & Stymus for San Francisco silver baron James C. Flood and his mansion, Linden Towers.
Linden Towers, a most impressive and massive estate built by 19th century San Francisco millionaire James C. Flood, was, at the time, regarded as the most elaborate country estate of the period. With an estimated worth of $18 million in the 1870s, Flood spared no expense in building and furnishing his Menlo Park mansion, commissioning artisans from around the world and using only the finest materials and furnishings obtainable. The décor in each of the over 40 rooms was personally selected by Flood. In an article published in 1948 in Peninsula Life Magazine, the author of the article, Theron G. Cady, gave this description: “A queen could command no finer bed-chambers than those of Linden Towers. Each bedroom had its own color scheme, which was carefully followed in the selection of drapes, linens, and the upholstery of overstuffed furniture.” The Flood Mansion was torn down in 1934 and all of the extravagant contents were sold. Clars Auction Gallery is extremely excited to announce that one of the extravagant bedroom suites has been discovered and will be offered on Sunday, May 20, a part of their Gallery sale. Deric Torres, director of decoratives and furnishings for Clars, said he knew, as soon as he saw the set, this was more than a beautiful Victorian bedroom suite. Further investigation confirmed that, in fact, this suite was commissioned by Flood himself and created for him by Pottier & Stymus of New York, who is regarded as one of the finest Victorian furniture makers of that period. Pottier & Stymus was also commissioned to create furniture for the Rockefellers and the White House.
This Victorian bedroom suite is made completely of ornately carved rosewood and includes the footboard, headboard, bureau and mirror. The entire suite, which at the time also included a massive canopy, was commissioned by Flood for an astounding 1875 price of $78,000. Indeed, he spared no expense in furnishing his country manor. Torres further commented that, several years ago, when furniture was stronger in the market than it is now, this suite would have carried a $75,000 to $100,000 estimate. This historic work of art in furniture has been conservatively estimated for the sale at $10,000 to $20,000.
Additional furniture at the two-day sale will be a coronation chair from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. This rare piece is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000.
For more information on the entire Fine Art category and sale overall and to register to bid, website at www.clars.com. Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Topping the fine art category will be this important abstract work by Italian artist Parmeggiani Tencredi (1927-1964). ‘Untitled,’ circa 1958, comes to the sale with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. From Dutch artist Karel Appel (1921-2006) is his vibrant colored gouache on paper titled ‘Blue Nude’ which is estimated at $20,000 to $40,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. This rare pencil drawing on paper entitled ‘Windy Day’ by Laurence Stephen Lowry (British, 1887-1976) is estimated to sell for $10,000 to $20,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. Among the outstanding 19th and 20th century sculpture to be offered will be ‘Nature Revealing Herself to Science’ by Louis Ernest Barrias (French, 1841-1905) estimated at $20,000 to $40,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. Highlighting the California art to be offered is ‘Hills over the Carmel River’ by August Gay (1890-1948). It’s expected to earn $40,000 to $60,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. The ‘Dead Christ Supported by Mary and Saint John the Evangelist’ by a follower of Giovanni Bellini (Italian, 1430-1516) is estimated to earn $12,000 to $18,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. This Victorian bedroom suite was created in 1878 for James C. Flood by Pottier & Stymus for an astounding $78,000. This bedroom suite comes to auction at Clars on Sunday. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery.
