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‘Young Woman’ by Isaac Israels (Dutch, 1864-1934) is one of the top paintings in the sale. Estimate: $30,000-50,000. Clars Auction Gallery image

Exceptional paintings enhance Clars auction Feb. 21-23

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery’s Feb. 21-23 sale will feature an exceptional collection of fine art, significant offerings from the Mellon Scaife collection from his Pebble Beach, Nantucket and Pittsburgh estates plus very desirable jewelry and timepiece offerings as well as fine Asian Art and Antiques.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

Fine Art

Turning first to the important European fine art that will be offered and following the success of the painting, Portrait of the Young Woman, by Isaac Israels (Dutch, 1864-1934) which achieved the monumental price of $95,200 in November, Clars will be offering another fine oil on canvas by the artist titled Young Woman, which will be offered for $30,000-$50,000. Master Barbizon painter, Charles François Daubigny (French, 1817-1878), captures the bucolic scenery at dusk in the painting, Lavandieres au bord de l’Oise (1864), which is estimated at $7,000-$10,000. Another impressive, yet whimsical, French painting from an important Beverly Hills, California collection is Paris with Notre Dame in the Distance by Albert Marquet (French, 1875-1947), which will be offered at $50,000-$70,000.

Important Russian paintings and sculpture will be front and center with two marine paintings by Vladimir Donatovitch Orlovsky (Russian, 1842-1914) titled, Sailboats at Sunset, offered at $30,000-$50,000 as well as another colorful work by Georgi Alexandrovich Lapchine (Russian, 1885-1950) titled Venice, with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000. The highlight in the Russian sculpture category is a rare bronze by Paul Troubetskoy (Russian, 1866-1938) titled, Consuela Vanderbilt. The subject was the only daughter and eldest child of William Kissam Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. This impressive work will be offered at $40,000-$60,000.

Clars will offer an array of exceptional American fine art as well. A collection of four colorful landscapes by the famous American artist Wolf Kahn (American, b. 1927) will highlight Clars’ contemporary offerings. The largest oil of the group titled, Open Woods, is a quintessential example of Kahn’s ability to synthesize the spontaneity of color with the realistic qualities of formal landscape painting. The four works offered on Feb. 22 come in a variety of sizes and mediums. Open Woods is offered at $25,000-$35,000, wile another beautiful oil titled Trees in Spring from 1993 will be offered at $15,000-$20,000.

This sale is also packed with important postwar and contemporary prints from a variety of significant artists. Highlighting this collection of prints is Wayne Thiebaud’s (American, b. 1920) Gumball Machine, a linoleum cut print from 1970. Clars has been extremely successful with Thiebaud’s prints at auction – setting many auction records for the artist. This highly sought-after print will surely meet or exceed its estimate of $10,000-$15,000. Other highlights from the print section include Robert Motherwell’s (American, 1915-1991) Three Forms, a color aquatint and lift-ground etching from 1988 with an estimate of $5,000-$7,000, and Sam Francis’ (American, 1923-1994) Trieto III, a colorful etching with aquatint from 1991 will be offered with an estimate of $6,000-$9,000.

In the late 19th and early 20th century American category, one highlight is a spectacular painting by William Merritt Chase (1849-1916). Chase is considered one of the most talented of the American Impressionists with his painterly compositions that master the effects of light in landscapes, portraiture and everyday objects. In his painting Still Life with Cherries and Copper Bowl Chase exemplifies this talent in capturing the perfect reflective qualities of the metal, copper, as well as the ripe red cherries in a bowl. This oil on canvas will be offered at $10,000-$15,000. A painting titled The Hunting Dogs by master canine sporting scene artist Percival Leonard Rosseau (1959-1937) is sure to fetch $10,000-15,000. A meticulously executed landscape depicting the delicate grace of wildlife is the painting Deer by a Mountain Stream by Hermann Herzog (1831-1932) will be available at $7,000-$10,000. A charming oil on panel study by Joseph Henry Sharp (American, 1859-1953) of an Indian encampment in winter will also be offered at $8,000-$12,000.

A rare etching by the artist Mary Cassatt (American, 1844-1926), titled Mother Marie dressing her baby after its bath, State I, circa 1890/91, will highlight the 19th century print offerings. The final state, State II, can be found in such prominent public collections as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Library of Congress, but this rare first state has not been seen in any public or private collections until now. Originally purchased from Gump’s in San Francisco over 60 years ago, this work has been quietly tucked away from the public consciousness until now. This work will be offered on Feb. 22 with an estimate of $20,000-$30,000.

Fine examples by California artists will also be featured on Feb. 22. Paintings by Edgar Alwin Payne, Joseph Kleitsch, August Gay, Si Chen Yuan, Granville Redmond and Charles Rollo Peters are just a few of the many names that will be offered at Clars.

Decorative Arts and Furnishings

Property from the important Mellon Scaife estate will once again command worldwide attention and top dollar in the February sale. This month, a very extensive collection of 18th and 19th century porcelains will be offered from Meissen, Derby, Worcester, George Jones and Royal Copenhagen that should collectively sell for more than $100,000.

Silver offerings from the Scaife Pittsburgh estate include a English Georgian sterling silver tankard, by H.B., London, 1745, 25.29 troy ounces.

Fine furniture from the Scaife Pittsburg estate will include a George III double pedestal dining table and George III cellarettes.

While the Mellon Scaife collection will be the highlight of the Decorative Arts and Furnishings offerings, the top lot of the category is an amazing Chinese triple Fusee and gilt bronze bracket clock with automaton. Coming from another important estate, this clock will be offered for $30,000-$40,000. Other fine pieces on note will be a Colonial mahogany “Maiden” figural nine-tube tall case clock, which should easily exceed its high estimate of $8,000. A Jules Leleu (1883-1961) French Art Deco “Psyche” cheval mirror, circa 1930, will be offered for $6,000-$8,000 and a figural “Fred clock,” French, having an ebony blackamoor with emerald and ruby tutti frutti headdress is estimated at $8,000-$12,000. A Continental pietra dura and marble foyer table will be offered for $6,000-$8,000 and a pair of monumental Renaissance Revival six-arm chandeliers, circa 1860, each with their original cut glass shades, will each carry a $4,000-$6,000 estimate. And for the traveler with vintage style, a Goyard Paris steamer trunk is expected to set sail for $4,000-$6,000.

The earliest piece to be offered is a beautiful Flemish scenic tapestry, 17th century, depicting a king presenting a dowry of gold to the bridegroom (estimate: $6,000-$8,000).

In sterling, an English Regency sterling silver tea kettle on stand with warmer by Paul Storr, London, 1828, is expected to achieve $10,000-$15,000. Sterling silver serving pieces in the Chrysanthemum and Wave Edge patterns by Tiffany & Co., 1880 and 1884, will be offered as well as a Gorham sterling silver oyster ladle and fish server in the King George pattern, 1894. From Russia will be a .916 silver-gilt large master salt by I. Khlebnikov, Moscow, 1876.

Asian Art and Antiques

This month, the Asian Art and Antiques category will also include a wide range of property from the Mellon Scaife estate. A highlight is a figural coral carving of a beauty accompanied by an attendant and phoenix from the late Qing/early Republic period, now mounted as a lamp, which carries an estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

The Asian art section will also feature a range of Chinese porcelain, primarily from the Qing dynasty and Republic period. And in the furniture category, a selection of Chinese rosewood pieces from the late Qing to early Republic period will be offered along with more contemporary huanghuali and Vietnamese huanghuali furniture.

Fine Jewelry and Timepieces

Jewels will be spectacular this month with the top two lots both estimated at $12,000-$16,000. The first is a fine alexandrite, diamond and 18K white gold ring, highlighting a cushion cut alexandrite weighing 2.07 carats. The second is a jadeite, diamond and 14K white gold ring. An emerald cut diamond and platinum ring, the diamond weighing 2.96 carats, is expected to fetch $8,000-$12,000.

From Faberge, a cigarette box executed in rose gold with gold mark and cabochon sapphire button, marked St. Petersburg 1908 1917, will be offered for $10,000-$15,000.

A man’s Audemars Piguet 18K yellow gold automatic chronograph wristwatch included in the sale carries a $6,000-$9,000 estimate.

Clars Auction Gallery’s Fine Art, Decoratives, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction will be held Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Feb, 21, 22 and 23.. The sales will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.

For details contact Clars at 510-428-0100 or email info@Clars.com

 

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