Clars Auctions is pleased to announce its upcoming October Gallery Auction, taking place on Friday, October 17th, 9:30 AM PDT. This exciting event will feature a curated selection of Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Art, and Fine Jewelry & Watches, with fresh-to-market offerings sourced from notable estates and private collections.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture & Decorative Arts department offers a distinguished selection of fine and decorative pieces that showcase centuries of global craftsmanship. Highlights include exceptional examples of European and American sterling silver, porcelain, glass, and contemporary works. Featured in the sale are an impressive pair of Sèvres-style gilt bronze mounted urns, estimated $4,000–$6,000, exquisite Meissen porcelain, and sterling silver by renowned makers such as French Odiot and Tiffany & Co., including a coveted sterling ‘Wave Edge’ flatware service, estimated $3,000–$5,000.

Also notable is a standout collection of fine guitars, including an A.C. Martin marked 0452, estimated $8,000–$10,000, and Washburn models. This property is being sold at public auction under Internal Revenue Code section 6335. Only the right, title, and interest of Hank Risan are offered for sale. The property is sold “as is, where is,” without recourse against the United States, which offers no guarantee or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding the condition or fitness of the property.

Complementing these are superb Arts & Crafts furniture pieces by Stickley and a selection of elegant slag glass lamps. Collectors will also discover an impressive range of pottery from Mata Ortiz, San Ildefonso, and the Hopi, featuring works by respected families including Navasie, Napeyo, and Lewis. Additional highlights include Fortuny silk light fixtures, a striking Minton majolica urn, a diverse array of contemporary glass, and a compelling collection of antiquities.

Fine Art

In Fine Art, Clars will showcase a diverse range of works representing different periods, styles, and regions, with offerings that promise to appeal to collectors at every level. One of the headline lots is a seasonally fitting screenprint by Pop Art icon Andy Warhol, titled The Witch (1981), featuring American actress Margaret Hamilton in her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Part of Warhol’s Myths series, this screenprint embodies the artist’s fascination with American pop culture icons, with other works in the series depicting figures like Superman, Dracula, and Santa Claus. Though created nearly twenty years after his famed 1960s portraits, The Witch recalls the vibrant neon palette and strong visual contrasts of Warhol’s earlier pieces, particularly Marilyn Diptych. The addition of hand-drawn lines and the use of Warhol’s own photography make this piece a dynamic and layered work, carrying an estimate of $30,000–$50,000.

Another standout in the art category is Nude Series #2 by Vietnamese artist Tran Luu Hau (1928–2020), known for his bold brushwork and abstracted forms. This expressive painting presents a faceless female figure rendered in red with black outlines, set against a background that evokes a blurred camera lens, drawing the eye firmly to the figure itself. Tran, who began his career as a propaganda artist during the First Indochina War before training at the Viet Bac Fine Arts School, developed a deeply expressive style that bridges the figurative and the abstract. This work is estimated at $15,000–$20,000.

Also featured is a serene oil on canvas landscape by California painter Ray Strong (1905–2006), a key figure in the Works Progress Administration art movement of the 1930s. Strong’s work frequently captures the unique beauty of the California landscape, and the untitled painting offered in this auction appears to depict a view from Mount Tamalpais toward the Pacific Ocean. Golden hills dotted with greenery stretch toward a slate-blue sea partially obscured by low cloud cover, with the coastal town of Bolinas visible in the distance. This contemplative piece is estimated at $8,000–$12,000.

Further notable works in the October sale include two large canvases by Bay Area Figurative Movement painter Henrietta Berk, a bucolic genre scene by Belgian artist Évariste Carpentier, and a wide-ranging selection of contemporary paintings and prints.

Fine Jewelry & Watches

The Fine Jewelry & Watches department is proud to offer a glittering array of diamond, colored gemstone, and gold pieces in this month’s sale. The selection includes antique, rare, and signed jewelry, as well as wearable staples offered at accessible price points.

Among the standout offerings are a diamond and platinum brooch, estimated at $2,500–$3,500; a honey jade and 18k gold ring, estimated at $2,000– $3,000; and a striking emerald, white enamel, and 18k gold bangle with an estimate of $7,000–$10,000. Whether you’re seeking investment-grade pieces or elegant everyday adornments, this sale offers a compelling range of options.

The Warehouse Auction: September 20th

Clars will continue its exciting auction weekend with the Warehouse Auction on Saturday, October 18th, 9:30 AM PDT. This dynamic event offers a broad and eclectic mix of items across all categories, with approachable price points that appeal to both new buyers and seasoned collectors. The sale will include a diverse selection of art, prints, photographs, modern and antique furniture, silver, porcelain, glass, fashion, and decorative objects.

Highlights from the Asian Art section include Japanese woodblock prints, ceramics, and folding screens — ideal for those seeking culturally significant and visually striking pieces. The jewelry offering will feature an array of accessible diamond and silver items, while the furniture and home décor category will span both traditional and modern styles, along with collectible toys and unique curiosities.

A standout feature of this auction is Session II of an extraordinary collection of early jazz memorabilia. This session includes historic items such as an Ella Fitzgerald signed recording agreement with Clef Records, a rare handwritten music sheet by Charlie Christian, and a Billie Holiday signed contract to perform at the Loop Lounge in Cleveland in 1956. Also featured is a Surrogate’s Court order related to the estate of Billie Holiday and a collection of her original orchestral arrangement sheets. Additional highlights include memorabilia from jazz legends such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, Fats Waller, and others — making this an unmissable opportunity for music historians and collectors alike.

The second installment of the Naomi Lindstrom collection on October 16th will include over one hundred lots of silver beads and ornaments from various cultures and an array of worldwide beads. Bidding begins at 1 PM PDT.

The silver portion of the auction consists of many examples from India, the Middle East, and part of Africa. The bead portion of the auction will feature glass examples from ancient Egypt, Venice, West Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. There will also be beads of various minerals such as turquoise, carnelian agate, shell and many others.

Hank Risan’s musical instrument collection included more than 750 examples of fine 19th and 20th century acoustic instruments. On October 17th, we are happy to offer over 50 of these magnificent guitars and mandolins.

Risan owns an 1835 Martin 2½-17 guitar that is believed to have accompanied Mark Twain (born Samuel Clemens) throughout his life. During a 1999 appearance on National Public Radio’s (NPR) All Things Considered program, Risan played an arrangement of the Stephen Foster classic, Old Susannah, on the Twain guitar.

In 2014, Risan placed 265 of his classic guitars on the block with boutique auction house Guernsey’s in New York. The auction was called The Artistry of the Guitar. However, many of the guitars, including the Martin — which was ultimately purchased by The Martin Guitar Company — did not reach their pre-auction estimates or reserves.

In our September 20th auction, many jazz items and ephemera caught bidders’ attention. On October 18th we are excited to present Session II of the collection.

Included in Session II is an of an extensive collection of early jazz items, including an Ella Fitzgerald signed recording agreement with Clef Records, a rare handwritten music sheet by Charlie Christian, a Billie Holiday signed contract to perform at the Loop Lounge in Cleveland, 1956, a Surrogates Court Order related to the estate of Billie Holiday, and a collection of Billie Holiday original orchestral arrangement sheets. Additional artists represented in the auction include Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lester Young, and Fats Waller, among others.

Clars Auctions’ Senior Vice President, Deric Torres, was honored to participate in a truly special celebration hosted by The Menlo Park Historical Association and The Museum of American Heritage — the 125th Wedding Anniversary of Helen Hopkins & Augustus Taylor on Saturday September 13th.

Held in the historic mansion where their grand 1900 society wedding originally took place. Helen Hopkins — grandniece of railroad magnate Mark Hopkins — was part of a legacy that helped shape California’s Gilded Age.

Guests enjoyed Antiques Roadshow-style valuation sessions with Deric Torres, who brought his decades of expertise in furniture and decorative arts to this elegant and educational afternoon. History, heritage, and heirlooms — all under one roof.

On September 18th, Clars is pleased to present a special selection of outstanding fine art that will appeal to each and every collector in our Important Fine Art Auction.

First in our series of highlights is a ceramic and polystyrene sculptural vase by French modernist, Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002). Saint Phalle is best known for her large-scale Nana series of sculptures, which depicts voluptuous and colorfully painted women in a variety of poses. Her color-block painting technique is displayed in Serpent Vase (1986), which is formed by a coiled snake around a bowl. The piece is from an edition of seven and is estimated at $20,000–$25,000.

Also featured in the auction are two oils on canvas by Sri Lankan artist, Senaka Senanayake (b. 1951) — Untitled, estimated at $15,000–$25,000, and The Devotees, estimated at $10,000–$15,000. Both paintings date to the late 1960s and are exemplary of his work during this period, depicting figural groups in an Abstract Expressionist manner with emotive smears of rich color and thick, black linework.

The auction will also include two significant works on paper by the iconic modernist Marc Chagall (Belarusian/French, 1887–1985), celebrated for his dreamlike imagery and poetic use of color. Known for bridging Cubism, Symbolism, and Fauvism with a deeply personal visual language, Chagall’s work continues to resonate with collectors worldwide. Featured is Plate 1, from Four Tales from the Arabian Nights (1948), a vivid color lithograph that exemplifies Chagall’s fascination with folklore and fantasy. Signed and annotated “Pl. 1” in pencil, the work is numbered 65/90 and was published by Pantheon Books, New York. It carries an estimate of $15,000–$20,000. Also on offer is Daphnis and Chloe (1961), a lyrical lithograph in colors on Arches paper. Signed in pencil and numbered 26/60, this work (Mourlot 311) stems from Chagall’s celebrated suite inspired by the ancient Greek love story. With its fluid composition and romantic palette, it is similarly estimated at $15,000–$20,000.

Another highlight in the September Important Fine Art Auction is a large, mixed media piece by Italian-American modernist, Enrico Donati (1909–2008). Donati began his artistic career in the early 1940s after meeting with André Breton and other European Surrealists who were active in New York City during the period. Estimated at $8,000–$12,000 and one of four works to be offered, Donati’s Coptic Wall II (1978) is one such work that epitomizes his use of textured canvases.

In addition to the above highlighted works, we are offering paintings by Ira Yeager and Bibi Zogbe, prints by Wayne Thiebaud and Franz Marc, and a wealth of other exceptional pieces.