This August at Clars we are excited to offer a collection of fine souvenirs, ephemera and art from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco.

Decorative Arts – August 17th

The Warehouse Auction is offering an extensive and fine private collection of items from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco. The collection includes original glass Novagems, sterling trophies, exhibit items, enamel pins, and watch fobs, as well as Panama Canal memorabilia. Felt pennants, photographs, and presentation articles related to exposition president Charles C Moore, San Francisco mayor James Rolph, Jr., and United States President William Howard Taft are also available. Complementing the historical collection, this monthly sale also boasts a wide array of contemporary and antique furniture, decorative arts, and rugs.

Fine Art – August 16th

On August 16th at Clars Auctions we are excited to feature a collection of unique and stunning illustrations created for stage scenery set designs. These designs are a rare and remarkable find and are in excellent condition over 100 years after their construction. The collection includes dozens of gouache set designs for stage productions — hand painted on paper with velvet and wood accents — as well as printed mock-ups and original Charles F. Thompson lightboxes used for display.

The company responsible for these models, the Charles F. Thompson Scenic Company, was based in Hollywood, California and was a respected producer of fine set design. The highly detailed illustrations include architectural elements from Greco-Roman columns to fanciful Art Deco configurations reminiscent of the Emerald City in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Other selections from this group include adjustable greenery and curtains, surreal figural scenes, and modern cityscapes showing streets lined with early 20th century high-rises, department stores, and colorful advertisements for ice cream shops and radios.

A charming aspect of several of these models is their semi-transparent construction which can be enjoyed using a lightbox. When placed in front of a backlighting device, the buildings’ windows, streetlights, and neon signs glow with a naturalistic luminosity that imbues the once-lifeless designs with a romantic sense of nostalgia.

Another standout among the collection is a beautiful three-panel rendering of the Tower of Jewels, a grand structure that was built specially for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and was demolished shortly after its end. The Tower was built using staff — a mixture of plaster and burlap — with jewel-toned glass panels that were illuminated from the inside and cast a colorful radiance over the courtyard. In this illustration, the Tower is depicted in meticulous detail with applied glitter detail highlighting the tiered pinnacle. A palatial fountain decorates the courtyard, and visitors marvel at their surroundings. The ephemeral nature of the Tower of Jewels makes depictions like this one, painted during its metaphorical lifetime, a precious and historic artefact. Each of these renderings is an exquisite fragment of early 20th century American artistry and a memento of a treasured moment in the history of San Francisco.

Mr. Stephen Schwartz and Stephen’s Antiques are recognized antiques dealers and advanced collectors known nationwide.

Originally based in Tiburon, CA, they sold investment grade European Decorative Art and select Furniture from coast to coast. Their largest public sale is a rare 18th century porcelain mounted salon table that sold for a staggering $2.4M in 1998. Mr. Schwartz helped numerous clients build very well curated collections that are still highly regarded.

Clars Auctions is please to present a selection from their exclusive collection, featuring formal French furniture, 19th-century bronze sculptures, ormolu-mounted marble clocks, and KPM porcelain plaques in our January 18th auction. Each piece is a testament to the discerning taste of the Schwartz family, showcasing their distinctive blend of European sophistication.