Born in Germany, William Wendt started his artistic practice making furniture in his home country. Upon emigrating to the United States, he turned his focus to painting.

Wendt was among the landscapists who comprised the Eucalyptus School of painters, named for the trees commonly seen in California. These artists applied the looseness of French Impressionism to renderings of the unique geography of California. Wendt was also associated with the Arts and Crafts movement in the state, which espoused a belief in making art in harmony with nature. Among his peers, Wendt was known as the “Dean of Southern California landscape painters,” and his commitment to celebrating the natural beauty of his surroundings continues to inspire generations of West Coast painters.

An exciting addition to our July 14th sale is an oil on canvas painting by California artist William Wendt. Largely self-taught, Wendt often employed a plein-air method while painting his naturalistic landscapes. For the piece in our sale, Wendt traveled north of his Laguna Beach studio to capture an overcast day at the beach in Monterey. The image includes his trademark painterly brushstrokes and prominent use of green tones. Along with his wife, sculptor Julia Bracken Wendt, and a host of other prominent artists, Wendt founded the California Art Club in 1909, which remains an active fine arts organization in the state.

Clars’ July 14th and 15th auctions will offer an important collection of ethnographic art, ancient Chinese pottery, abstract paintings from artists such as Herb Jackson and James Franco, and beautiful diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry that is perfect for any Summer event.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The sale will be led by a major and important collection of ethnographic art from Vanna and N. Lee Lacy (Palm Springs, California). Mr. Lacy was a prominent Hollywood producer of films, creative golden-era TV series, and iconic commercials. His collecting has spanned six decades. Highlights include a Bakota reliquary, Gabon, estimated at $15,000–$20,000, and an Olmec figure of a baby, valued at $12,000–$18,000.

In addition to the ethnographic collection, the sale with feature a fine selection of sterling silver and objects of vertu, including a Cartier 14k gold cigarette case, estimated at $6,000–$9,000. There will also be an array of traditional decorative arts on offer, including a large collection of samplers, an English bracket clock, and a Swiss orchestral music box, among other items.

Asian Art

The Asian Art department will feature a curated group of ancient Chinese pottery and bronze objects from a Palm Springs, CA collection. Leading the group is a finely cast bronze tripod ding ritual vessel, with original lid dated to the Han dynasty. Another noteworthy item from the Han dynasty is an elegant pottery goose-form bottle vase, which still retains some of its original hand painted pigments. Rounding out the collection are two painted pottery jars from the Neolithic period. Both have classic geometric designs and are still in remarkably good condition.

Fine Art

This July at Clars, we are pleased to offer an acrylic on canvas painting by American artist, Herb Jackson. Known for abstract and non-objective paintings, Jackson’s colorful compositions are in collections throughout the world, including in the Brooklyn Museum in New York and the British Museum in London. The work up for auction this month, titled Ancient Cycles, features bright earth tones and has a heavily textured appearance. This piece by Herb Jackson is estimated at $8,000–$12,000.

Also to be featured in the July sale is a bronze sculpture by contemporary French artist, Christophe Charbonnel. Titled Homme à la Pierre, this statue depicts a male figure modeled in a style influenced by antique Greek and Roman sculpture. Charbonnel’s figures often echo Classical statuary but are modernized with heavily textured elements and a degree of abstraction alongside emotive expressions on each sculpted face. The bronze in this month’s sale is estimated at $5,000–$7,000.

Lastly, we present an acrylic on canvas painting by well-known American actor and artist, James Franco. Franco’s artwork appears to be influenced by street art and urban scenery, while also paying homage to Neo-Expressionist artists, like Jean-Michel Basquiat, with bright colors and an energetic feel. The painting will be offered at $4,000–$6,000.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone, and gold jewelry in their upcoming July 14th sale. This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of your jewelry collection at accessible price points. To be featured in the sale are a nice selection of diamond jewelry in time for bridal season, including a pair of diamond and eighteen karat gold stud earrings, estimated at $1,000–$1,500, and a diamond and fourteen karat white gold bracelet, estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

The sale will also include a colorful gemstone selection, including a pair of coral, diamond, and fourteen karat gold earrings, estimated at $3,500–$4,500; a ruby, diamond, and fourteen karat white gold pendant necklace, estimated at $2,500–$3,500; and an emerald, diamond, and eighteen karat white gold bypass ring, estimated at $2,000–$4,000.

Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life include a David Yurman diamond and sterling silver bracelet, estimated at $500–$700, and a John Hardy sterling silver and eighteen karat gold necklace and ear clips suite, estimated at $400–$600.

Clars is delighted to be offering the Collection of Vanna and N. Lee Lacy on Friday, July 14th in our Tribal Arts, Interiors, Art & Jewelry Auction.

In the 1960s, the wunderkind Hollywood producer, N. Lee Lacy, fell in love with the African, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian, and other Tribal Arts that he was seeing in galleries and auction houses in Paris, Brussels, and London (he had a home in London as a base). His uncommon creativity, writing for and producing TV series and iconic TV ads (winning Best Of The Film Festival awards in Cannes, Venice, London, and NYC), led to him have international offices with 40 writers working for his production company, which he headquartered in Hollywood.

Lacy always collected tribal art, with Hollywood presenting buying opportunities in Pre-Columbian works in the 1960s and African works in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1960s and 1970s, Lacy also bought from auctions in London, NY, and Paris and at galleries in those cities and Brussels, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Lee married Vanna Warmack Lacy 35 years ago. Together they fell in love with Oceanic Art, spurred by several voyages to the South Seas accompanying their friend, Caroline Yacoe. Yacoe is an Oceanic scholar, lecturer, author, art collector/dealer, and documentary filmmaker specializing in recording traditional ceremonies and cultures on remote Pacific Islands. This was also a prime period for acquiring authentic, old Indonesian pieces being brought to California by prescient dealers.

Lastly, while producing and creating films in Hollywood and investing in property and living in Beverly Hills, the Lacy’s opened a gallery on the famed Melrose Place (which became the name of a hugely popular TV series) showing paintings and sculptures of modern and contemporary artists. Vanna was the Lacy Gallery’s Director. After a successful run of more than a decade, the Lacy’s retired their gallery. The paintings and sculptures they had most loved personally, plus their mostly decades-old tribal collections, resided with them in their Beverly Hills and then their Palm Springs home until June when it was time to move themselves and their art collections along.

The Han Dynasty was known for its exquisite craftsmanship and artistic design. Today, surviving examples of Han Dynasty vases, vessels, and figures are highly prized and collected for their historical importance and artistic value.

Typically Ding vessels feature a round body and a lid, creating a covered container. They are often adorned with intricate relief decorations depicting various motifs such as mythical creatures, dragons, birds, animals, or geometric patterns. These decorative elements were meticulously cast into the bronze surface and sometimes embellished with additional details using techniques like engraving or inlay.

The above vessel was produced during the Han Dynasty, 206 BCE to 220 CE in China. This type of vessel was made using the technique of bronze casting, which involved pouring molten bronze into molds.

Ding vessels were highly valued for their ceremonial and ritual significance. They were used for a variety of purposes, including storing and presenting offerings, as well as serving as burial objects or prestigious gifts. They are considered to be symbols of status and wealth, reflecting the sophisticated artistic taste of the Han Dynasty.

Han Dynasty works provide valuable insights into the ancient Chinese civilization and the advanced metalworking techniques of the time.

William Keith was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States as a child, eventually settling in San Francisco. After studying watercolor techniques, he began painting with oils, and by 1870, he was working as a full-time fine artist.

Keith is known for his dramatic California landscapes, particularly his depictions of Yosemite National Park and other locations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. His work combines realism with romanticism, capturing the detailed topography of California intimately and monumentally.

Keith’s artistic prowess shines through in his captivating depiction of the Yosemite Valley, featuring majestic horses that add an extra touch of dynamism and wonder to the scene. With meticulous brushstrokes and a keen eye for detail, Keith transports us into the heart of Yosemite’s natural splendor.

Through his artwork, Keith not only immortalizes the raw beauty of Yosemite but also invites us to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between nature and the human spirit. Keith’s paintings played a significant role in shaping public perception of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the serene beauty of Yosemite. Along with those of other artists, his paintings helped inspire the conservation movement and ultimately contributed to the establishment of Yosemite as a national park in 1890.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne were a father son furniture making team who worked out of New York. They made works in pewter and bronze and opened their showroom in the 1960s on East 57th street.

Their earlier works focused on mythology and antiquities from across the globe, and the pair experimented with chemical reactions to create a patinated effect reminiscent of antiquities.

The LaVerne’s furniture pieces, including the “Marriage Whirl” table, have become highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of mid-century modern design. The intricate Eastern motif in the “Marriage Whirl” table depicts an ancient ceremony of great happiness. It was designed in patinated bronze and pewter with hand-painted polychrome enamels.

The LaVerne’s works were influential during the mid-20th century and continue to be admired and collected today for their artistic expression and innovative approach to furniture design.

Born in Magdeburg, Germany in 1881, Gustave Baumann was a renowned American artist who achieved notoriety for his exquisite woodcuts and prints.

He immigrated to the United States and settled in the artistic community of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baumann was known for his exquisite craftsmanship, intricate details, and captivating compositions. His woodcuts and prints showcase an appreciation for nature, displaying vibrant colors and capturing the essence of landscapes and cultural scenes.

Filled with beautiful blooming landscapes in brightly colored skies, his work illuminated the beauty and grandeur of the American Southwest. Baumann’s meticulous technique — combined with his ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and tranquility — makes his art highly desirable for collectors seeking timeless beauty.

Finn Juhl’s NV-45 Chair is highly regarded for its innovative design, craftsmanship, and contribution to Danish modernism.

Three Finn Juhl NV-45 Chairs commended a total of $41,580 at Clars Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

Juhl initially began work on the NV-45 chair design in 1941, finalizing and first displaying the chair to the world at the annual Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in the fall of 1945. The NV-45 Chair is a striking and iconic piece of furniture. It features a sculptural wooden frame, with an exaggerated curved backrest, and organically shaped armrests.

The natural and sinuous form starkly contrasted to Juhl’s previous chair designs, which tended to be boxier. Called “the mother of all modern chairs” by the Japanese professor and design collector, Mr. Noritsugu Oda, the iconic NV-45 chair is one of Finn Juhl’s absolute masterpieces. The chair’s design reflects Juhl’s interest in organic forms and his ability to merge aesthetics with comfort. It continues to be sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts around the world, serving as a testament to Juhl’s enduring legacy in furniture design.

Wayne Thiebaud was an American painter known for his depictions of everyday objects and scenes. While he is primarily associated with Pop Art, still lifes, and landscapes, on rare occasion he would work in portraiture.

Clars offered Thiebaud’s Portrait of Jean Lee Porter, an oil painting created in 1951/52, at our Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction. This particular artwork is a rare example of portraiture in his oeuvre, commanding a total of $31,500.

The painting showcases Jean Lee Porter, a friend and model for Thiebaud. Thiebaud’s distinctive style is evident in this piece — characterized by his use of bold, vibrant colors and thick application of paint. He captures the sitter in a frontal pose against a neutral background, emphasizing her facial features and expression. Thiebaud’s attention to detail is notable in the rendering of Porter’s face, which exhibits a sense of realism and three-dimensionality. The painting showcases Thiebaud’s early exploration of form, light, and color. As his focus shifted towards other subjects, his output of portraits became less frequent, making these early works relatively scarce.

Thiebaud had a special ability of infusing everyday subjects and settings with vitality and personality, showcasing his skill as a painter. His unique approach to capturing the essence of his subjects through rich brushwork and intense hues makes Thiebaud’s work so exciting for artists and collectors to this day.

Harry Huang, Associate Director of Asian Art at Clars, spoke to Rob Stewart, PBS TV Host & Executive Producer, on the beauty and intricacies of a Mughal style jade vase for 2023’s Antique Valuation Day.

The very well-hollowed vessel is finely carved in low relief with bamboo, plum blossom, and chrysanthemum, along with a pair of magpies. The shoulders display a pair of openwork peony handles and the cover is decorated with a floral form finial.

This vase is carved out of a single piece of nephrite jade stone — executed in the Mughal style — with a thin body and cover linked by finely carved chains. The plants and the pair of magpies signify the arrival of spring, which grants well wishes for the New Year.