Deigner Couture, Rich Historic Collections and Mid-Century Modern at Clars in November On Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th, 2-11, Clars will bring to the block fine art, furnishings, Asian offerings and rich special collections that will likely even exceed the firm’s November
News-Antique.com - Oct 27,2011 - Oakland, CA — On Saturday and Sunday, November 12th and 13th, 2-11, Clars will bring to the block fine art, furnishings, Asian offerings and rich special collections that will likely even exceed the firm’s November 2010 auction which was the largest in their history. On Sunday evening, November 7th, 2010, President Redge Martin dropped the hammer on the final lot knowing that sale would go into their record books earning over $1.6 million. A look at what is coming this November to Clars fuels the prediction that this sale will surpass last years.
The fine art offerings are exceptional with works by American and California artists headlining this category. Coming from a private collection, one of Wayne Thiebaud’s (California, b. 1920) earliest landscapes, appropriately entitled “Landscape, 1965” is estimated to earn $150,000 to $200,000. John Fery’s (American, 1859-1934) “Black Feet Glacier, Glacier National Park,” one of his largest oils to ever enter the market, was originally commissioned by the Great Northern Railroad and will now be offered with an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000. “Sailing Boat at Sea”, 1905, an ethereal early oil on canvas on wood by Eustace Ziegler (American, 1881-1969) is estimated at $15,000 to $25,000.
California artists will be represented by William Keith (California, 1838-1911) with an oil on board entitled “Springtime” estimated to earn $15,000 to $25,000. The provenance on this work is highly important as it was purchased from a descendent of one of the daughters of Bartholomew Patrick Oliver. Oliver was a great benefactor to St. Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA). The college's dining hall is named after him (Oliver Hall). Jumping to the contemporary, “Untitled” by Gordon Onslow Ford (California, 1912-2003), an acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, carries an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.
Fine American sculpture to be offered includes Richard MacDonald’s (California, b. 1946) bronze “Elena Study II,” estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 and “Cabeza Contado” by Elizabeth Catlett (American, b. 1915) is expected to earn the same.
European offerings include a unique mixed media fresco by Pierre Marie Brisson (French, b. 1955) from the estate of Jean Deleage, San Francisco, purchased through Bowles/Sorokko Galleries and Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s (Austrian, 1928-2000) "Regentag: Look at in on a Rainy Day," 1971-72, portfolio of ten color screenprints with metal imprints.
Turning to furnishings finds a strong focus on the finest mid-century modern designers including Nakashima, Nelson, Ponti, Miller, Frank Lloyd Wright and Knoll. From designer George Nelson for Herman Miler will be a striking marshmallow sofa that carries an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. From George Nakashima, will be a slab walnut coffee table executed in 1963 for the consignor who paid the hefty price of $300 at the time. Exemplifying furniture becoming art, this work is expected to earn $20,000 to $30,000.
While the art and furnishings categories will offer exceptional works, it is the rich “special collections” that will likely launch this sale over the top.
The first special collection of note is an impressive collection of rare and important
