Cocktails, Conversation & Valuations | City Club of San Francisco

Event
Stories & News

The City Club of San Francisco is a landmark social and business club designed by the San Francisco architectural firm, Miller & Pflueger, under the direction of Timothy Pflueger (1892–1946).

The 11-story building housed the offices of brokers who worked on the trading floor of the adjacent San Francisco Stock Exchange. Pflueger was one of the first California architects to incorporate Classic European Modernism into his work. He commissioned a number of renowned artists and craftsmen to work on the Stock Exchange Tower, which is considered the finest example of interior art deco style in the city.

City Club Event with Clars — Cocktails, Conversation and Valuations at The City Club of San Francisco.

More than a business and social club, The City Club is a community of diverse and talented people who value leadership and believe in San Francisco character, spirit, and traditions. The City Club inspires business connection and friendships, community service, an appreciation of the arts, and the sharing of cultural and culinary experiences.

Clars Auction Gallery partnered with The City Club members for an evening of Cocktails, Conversation and Valuations on February 22, 2023. Members of The City Club brought art and collectibles and chatted with Clars’ specialists. This evening gave members an opportunity to ask questions which helped them learn a bit of history on their items and their value in the current collecting market. In addition to the hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and extraordinary views of San Francisco, the event was a night to remember.

2022 Fine Art In Review

Fine Art
Stories & News

2022 saw wonderful auction results at Clars, with outstanding Fine Art sales doing 42% of total sales for the fiscal year that wrapped in August.

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Spring Highlights

Clars set a US auction record for the artist Loie Hollowell (American, b. 1983) with the sale of her 2017 painting, Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac), that soared above estimates of $400,000–$600,000 to sell for $1,050,000 on March 25 (all prices noted here include buyer’s premium).

Loie Hollowell (American, b. 1983), Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac), 2017, oil paint, acrylic medium, sawdust on high density foam on linen mounted on panel, signed, titled and dated verso, 48"h x 36"w x 5"d.Sold: $1,050,000 — Loie Hollowell (American, b. 1983), *Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac)*, 2017, oil paint, acrylic medium, sawdust on high density foam on linen mounted on panel, signed, titled and dated verso, 48″h x 36″w x 5″d.
**Sold: $1,050,000**

Pieces by iconic artists such as Robert Longo (American, b. 1953), Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, Wayne Thiebaud, Salvador Dali, Sol Lewitt and Richard Diebenkorn brought strong results for the sale as well. Especially noteworthy was Robert Longo’s lithograph, Gretchen, from 1984, which realized $59,375.

Robert Longo (American b. 1953), Gretchen, 1984, lithograph, 67.5" x 39".Estimate: $60,000–$90,000. — Robert Longo (American b. 1953), *Gretchen*, 1984, lithograph, 67.5″ x 39″.
**Sold: $59,375**

The second highest selling lot of the sale was a rare drawing by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) titled, Etudes VII (d’apres Manet). Many international bidders vied for the lot but in the end it sold to a buyer in San Francisco for $150,000.

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Études VII (d'après Manet), 1961, graphite on les Annonay (watermarked) paper, 17.75" x 23.5". Provenance: Alex Maguy, Paris; Estate of Liselotte Weber (Burlingame, CA). Exhibited: Alex Maguy Galerie de L’Élysée, Hommage à Picasso, November 19–December 25, 1966. Reference: Zervos XX:50.Sold: $150,000. — Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), *Études VII (d’après Manet)*, 1961, graphite on les Annonay (watermarked) paper, 17.75″ x 23.5″. Provenance: Alex Maguy, Paris; Estate of Liselotte Weber (Burlingame, CA). Exhibited: Alex Maguy Galerie de L’Élysée, *Hommage à Picasso*, November 19–December 25, 1966. Reference: Zervos XX:50.
**Sold: $150,000.**

Summer Highlights

Clars was pleased to establish the new, world auction record for Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926) with the painting, Blue Boats, selling for $187,500. This beat the previous record held by Clars from September 2020 of $147,600.

Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), Blue Boats, 1990, oil on canvas, 44" x 48".Sold: $187,500 — Raimonds Staprans (American/Latvian, b. 1926), *Blue Boats*, 1990, oil on canvas, 44″ x 48″.
**Sold: $187,500**

Also of note was a rare collection of four works by Leonor Fini (French/Argentine, 1908–1996) that were offered at Clars Modern + Contemporary sale on June 17th. This combined collection sold for an astounding $250,625 with one particular painting, Zorniga, selling for $187,500.

Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), Zorniga, 1959, oil on canvas, 31.5" x 10".Sold: $187,500 — Leonor Fini (Argentine/French, 1908–1996), *Zorniga*, 1959, oil on canvas, 31.5″ x 10″.
**Sold: $187,500**

Fall Highlights

Clars’ Fall Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale on September 16th started off the season with impressive results having 230 lots achieve a little over $1.3 million in sales. Fine Art led the way with $1.1 million in sales with the highlight being Andy Warhol’s complete set of ten screenprints, Cowboys and Indians, selling for $503,750. Rick Unruh, Clars CEO, remarked, “Clars is definitely ‘moving up the ladder’ in being recognized internationally as one of the premier auction houses for Modern and Contemporary works. This past auction was our 3rd complete set of Warhols to be offered in the last 2 years — all with outstanding results.”

Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987), *Cowboys and Indians* (the complete set of ten screenprints), 1986, screenprints in colors, 36″ x 36″ each.
**Sold: $503,750**

Another stellar performance in the sale is represented by several Pumpkin screenprints by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929) selling for a combined price of $108,750.

Yayoi Kusama Prints from the September 16th Sale — Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), **Top left:** *Pumpkin (Y)*, 1992, screenprint, pencil signed, dated, and titled lower margin, edition 18/150, printed by Okabe Tokuzo, 6.25″h x 8.75″w. **Top Right:** *Dancing Pumpkin (YOR)*, 2004, screenprint, pencil signed, titled, and dated lower margin, edition 57/80, printed by Okabe Tokuzo, 15.5″h x 22.25″w. **Bottom Left:** *Napping Pumpkin*, 1993, screenprint, pencil signed, titled, and dated lower margin, edition 59/120, printed by Okabe Tokuzo, 21″h x 25.75″w. **Bottom Right:** *Red Colored Pumpkin*, 1994, screenprint, pencil signed, titled, and dated lower margin, edition 58/98, printed by Okabe Tokuzo, 18″h x 20.75″w.
**Sold: $108,750**

Winter Highlights

Clars’ Fine Collectors Auction rounded out the 2022 year with the sale of an iconic work from Tom Wesselmann’s series, Great American Nude, titled The Great American Nude #13 for $162,500. The work is an early example of the series, which he completed in 1973 with number #100. The work demonstrates the artist’s use of bold color and military imagery, along with his famous female nude form — the recurring subject throughout his career.

The Great American Nude #13. — Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004), *The Great American Nude #13*, 1962, oil, fabric, and collage cut-outs on tin, 7″ x 7″.
**Sold: $162,500**

2022 Asian Art In Review

Asian Art
Stories & News

2022 saw wonderful auction results at Clars, with outstanding Asian Art sales throughout the year.

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Winter Highlights

Starting off the year strong, Clars’ Asian Art department sold a pair of Chinese doucai enameled globular vases for $87,500 in January. Each vase is painted on the exterior with eight bats amidst stylized lotus petals all between ornate scrolling lotus and vine patterns.

Another highlight from the January sale is represented by the Chinese huanghuali corner leg table, which sold for $93,750. With small supply of wood, the availability of furniture made from it is limited. The highly figured, honey-hued wood has long been appreciated for its mountain peak and ghost face patterns. Huanghuali furniture can be incorporated into any type of decor to create a more traditional Chinese style in your home, or you can choose to mix and match with more contemporary decor.