Important Ludwig Deutsch painting leads Clars’ Feb. 23 auction

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery’s February 22-23, 2020 auction will present highly significant works by renowned artists, designers and historic collections spanning the categories of Fine Art, Decorative Arts & Furnishings, Jewelry and Asian Antiques and Art. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

FINE ART

Clars will present as one of the sale’s top highlights the stand-out painting, Eid al-Fitr,” (Breaking the Fast) (shown above), 1902, by the French naturalized Austrian Orientalist painter Ludwig Deutsch (Austrian/French, 1855-1935). This work is signed, inscribed and dated ‘L. Deutsch Le Caire 1902’ at lower left.

Despite the startling clarity of his pictures, the details of Ludwig Deutsch’s life remain elusive and vague. Brought up in Vienna, he studied at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste before moving to Paris in 1878. There he befriended several Orientalist artists, including Arthur von Ferraris, Jean Discart, and his lifelong friend Rudolf Ernst. It is likely that he studied with the French history painter Jean-Paul Laurens prior to his participation in the Société des Artistes Français from 1879 to 1925; his other instructors and mentors, however, are unknown.

In 1919, Deutsch gained French citizenship and, after a brief absence, began exhibiting again under the name “Louis Deutsch.” In an effort to stay current and revive what was now a waning genre, Deutsch’s technique in the years after 1910 began to change; his late pictures hovered between the highly detailed, polished surfaces for which he – and several other Orientalist painters – had become renowned, and the looser brushwork and more highly keyed palette of Post-Impressionism. Throughout this long and varied career, Deutsch consciously avoided the picturesque and anecdotal qualities that marked so many contemporary Orientalist works, and chose instead a far broader and more modern approach. Drawing from all aspects of Middle Eastern life – especially Egyptian – and isolating and scrutinizing particular moments in time, Deutsch’s paintings are today seen as verging on the cinematic, with all the spectacular and static qualities of a promotional film still. Breaking the Fast, Eid al-Fitr will be offered for $250,000-$350,000.

Another top highlight in the Fine Art category is the oil-on-canvas by Ralph Albert Blakelock (American, 1847-1919) titled Trees by a Stream (above). This work represents his renown for painting serene and beautiful landscapes and will be offered for $20,000-$30,000. The work is accompanied with University of Nebraska Blakelock (Inv. #158 verso) letter from Norman Geske (Geske inventory #NBI-158)

 From California Impressionist painter Jack Wilkinson Smith (American, 1873-1949) will be his oil-on-canvas Untitled (Laguna Tidal Pool) that will be offered for $15,000-$20,000.

A classic painting by Alaskan artist, Sydney Laurence (American, 1865-1940), featuring his favorite subject matter, Mount McKinley, will also be offered at $10,000-$20,000.

SCULPTURE

Highlighting the sculpture offerings will be the bronze Figure Four, 1983, by Nathan Oliveira (American, 1929-2010), which will be offered for $50,000-$70,000.

PHOTOGRAPHY

DECORATIVE ARTS  & FURNISHINGS

20th Century Design offerings will also take center stage at the February sale, led by an exciting selection of furniture by George and Mira Nakashima.

Highlights include two pairs of George Nakashima Greenrock stools, each estimated at $10,000-15,000, as well as an Andy Franz for Nakashima walnut cabinet (above) that is expected to bring $25,000-35,000. A George Nakashima for Widdicomb even-arm sofa is valued at $20,000-$40,000.

Clars is honored to present the second installment of the collection of Oceanic and Tribal art items from the Richard I.M. Kelton Collection, Marina del Rey, California. The selection of items to be presented have a cumulative estimate of over $50,000-$100,000. One of the many highlights is a tall and spectacular Vanuatu Rambaramp effigy figure. Estimate $4,000-$6,000.

Fine sterling will also be a standout with the top offering being a Reed and Barton Love Disarmed flatware service that will be offered for $15,000-$20,000.

A collection of Tiffany Studios lighting includes a damascene and patinated bronze floor lamp, estimated at $6,000-$7,000, and a chainmail chandelier.  

Rounding out the other highlights in this category will be a grouping of four Louis XV period fauteuils from the collection of Antoinette Quilleret, “Topsy,” co-founder and President of David Webb for 18 years, valued at $4,000-$6,000. Also to be offered is an Austrian Joann Balkrausen carpet, valued at $7,000-$10,000.

A variety of Native American art, including an Eastern Woodlands or Great Plains Catlinite pipe and an American Eastern Woodlands Indian presentation pipe tomahawk estimated to achieve $5,000-$7,000.

THE JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES

February jewelry kicks off the sale with a selection of amethyst jewelry to celebrate the month’s birthstone. The highlight is a 48 carat, deep purple amethyst ring, accented with 6 full-cut diamonds.

THE ASIAN ART & ANTIQUES

Among the highlights to be presented in this category is a large Chinese metal-alloy rectangular incense burner carried by two foreigners, six character “Da Ming Xuan De Nian Zhi” mark to the base. Coming to the sale from a prominent San Francisco estate, this lot will be offered for $3,000-$5,000.

Other exceptional pieces include is a Chinese carved coral figure of a beauty with a parrot and child that is estimated to sell for $4,000-$6,000. An inscribed Chinese bronze censer, the deep bowl-shaped body cast with a band of confronting archaistic phoenix against a leiwen ground, will be offered for $3,000-$5,000.

Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers. For additional information on any item in the auction, email info@clars.com.