On November 20th Clars will hold our Fine Collectors Auction. This auction is devoted to outstanding property from fine estates and collections, including 18th through 20th century furniture, decorative art, Native American basketry, and gold coins.

Fine Art

Clars Fine Art department is excited to feature a Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004) original work from his iconic series Great American Nude in the November 20th auction. The oil and mixed media work, titled The Great American Nude #13, was completed in 1962 and 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 artwork is estimated at $50,000–$70,000.

Clars will also be offering a work on paper by renowned abstract expressionist artist, Richard Pousette-Dart (American, 1916–1992), titled The Chalice. The watercolor and gouache on paper was created during the 1940s while the artist was experimenting with biomorphic and symbolic forms. Pousette-Dart was a contemporary of several successful expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Ad Reinhardt, to name just a few. The work will be offered at $12,000– $18,000.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

Clars is pleased to offer a fine selection of European and American furniture and decorative arts. Highlights include a Fine Neo Grec salon cabinet circa 1870 likely Herter Brothers, estimated at $4,000–$6,000, a pair of Louis XVI style malachite mounted gilt bronze gueridons, at $4,000–$6,000, and a Russian Napoleonic gilt bronze chandelier valued at $7,000–$9,000.

Also on offer will be a fine Italian micro-mosaic plaque of the Doves of Pliny by the Vatican Mosaic Workshop, late 19th century, and a French gilt bronze and champleve enamel clock garniture retailed by Le Roy et Fils, Paris, late 19th century.

The department will also feature several specialized collections, including a large collection of South African Gold Krugerrands, Native American baskets, Indian miniature paintings, and Russian icons, among others.

Asian Art

The paintings and calligraphy section will be led by a massive ink and color on paper hanging scroll by Wu Changshuo (1844–1927), titled Pine and Lingzhi, painted in 1921. As one of the world’s most acclaimed masters in Chinese painting and one of the leading masters of Shanghai School in the Republic period, Wu Changshuo is known for his style of merging calligraphy techniques into paintings, using the ink and brushstroke to demonstrate the conception rather than striving for realism, which greatly influenced the modern and contemporary Chinese art world. This massive piece at Clars presents a great example of Wu Changshuo’s iconic style of mixing traditional Chinese with Western sensibility to depict one of his favorite subject matters in his late years, the pine tree. The painting comes from an important Southern California estate and it will be offered with an estimate of $80,000–$120,000.

A strong San Francisco Bay Area collection of archer’s rings will lead the jade and miscellaneous section, presenting nearly 40 lots of imperial quality white jade, celadon jade, jadeite, agate, glass, enamel, and various organic material archer’s rings. The collector acquired this impressive collection throughout 1970s to 1990s from various important dealers and estates in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Ching Wah Lee, Herb Newman, and Sandra Sakata, among others.

Fine Jewelry

The Fine Jewelry & Timepiece department at Clars Auction Gallery is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry, in their upcoming November 20th sale.

This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples as your perfect gifts to kick off the holiday season. A wide selection of wearable diamond jewelry will be offered including lot 2044, an approx. 3.40 carats colored diamond and eighteen karat gold ring, estimated at $7,000–$9,000; and lot 6016, a diamond and fourteen karat white gold bangle bracelet, estimated at $3,000–$5,000. To be offered as well is a colorful gemstone selection, including lot 6023, a Burma ruby, diamond and fourteen karat white gold bracelet, estimated at $7,000–$9,000; and lot 6004, a South Sea pearl, diamond and platinum ring, estimated at $800–$1,200. Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life are featured by makers such as Tiffany, represented in lot 6003, an Early 20th Century diamond and pearl silver-topped fourteen karat gold pin, Tiffany & Co., estimated at $800–$1,200; and lot 6159, a sterling silver bracelet, Buccellati, estimated at $700–$900.