July Highlights

  • Auction

Clars Auction Gallery will offer a fine selection of Asian works of art on Sunday, July 17th. This auction will include various Chinese Ming dynasty bronze Buddhist sculptures, huanghuali furniture, Chinese paintings, porcelains, and other categories of Asian works of art.

Asian Art

The auction will be led by three Ming dynasty bronze Buddhist sculptures. The first will be a bronze Avalokiteshvara figure seated on a double-lotus thrown with one hand in an abhaya gesture, estimated at $10,000–$15,000. The back of the base is incised with the name of the patron of the sculpture and dated the sixteenth year of Hongzhi reign (1503). This bronze sculpture of Avalokiteshvara is from a Bay area private collector who previously acquired it from Gu Yea Guan Art Gallery in Bangkok in 1993. The other is a seated figure of Avalokiteshvara in ‘royal ease’ position, with a calm and serene expression. The gilt bronze figure of Vajrasattva is presented sitting on a double-lotus throne, holding a Vajra and a bell in each hand, with turquoise inlay on the crown and ornaments. These two bronze sculptures come from a prominent San Francisco estate. In addition to the three sculptures, there will also be several other gilt bronze Himalayan Buddhist sculptures from an important San Francisco collector.


Left: Cast bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Middle: Gilt bronze figure of Vajrasattva. Provenance: San Francisco estate. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Right: Bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara. Provenance: San Francisco estate. Estimate: $3,000–$5,000

The furniture section will feature a pair of Qing Dynasty huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs, valued at $30,000–$50,000. Each chair features a ruyi-head-form roundel on the back carved in relief with a mythical beast amongst flaming clouds. The arched back and the arms with white brass hardware are decorated with prunus motifs.


Pair of Chinese huanghuali horseshoe back armchairs. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1989.
Estimate: $30,000–$50,000

Another furniture highlight is a Qing dynasty huanghuali cabinet of tapered form, expected to sell for $40,000–$60,000. The elegant design amplifies the rich and dramatic wood grains of huanghuali.


Chinese huanghuali tapered cabinet. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1989. Estimate: $40,000–$60,000
Chinese huanghuali tapered cabinet. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1989.
Estimate: $40,000–$60,000

Other highlights of the sale include a painting by a contemporary Chinese artist, Gu Gan (Chinese, born 1942); this painting was acquired from Michael Goedhuis Gallert, in London in 2001, and is valued at $5,000–$7,000. Along with a pair of blue and white ‘dragon’ bowls with Xianfeng mark of the period, are a pair of blue and white garden stools, a cobalt blue ground yellow glazed ‘dragon’ dish with Chuxiugong Zhi mark, a Japanese early Edo period Katana, and a Japanese wakizashi.


Gu Gang (1922–2020), Harmony. Provenance: Michael Goedhuis Gallert, London, 2001.To be offered: July 17
Gu Gang (1922–2020), Harmony. Provenance: Michael Goedhuis Gallert, London, 2001.
Estimate: $5,000–$7,000

Fine Art

Clars is pleased to offer two large paintings by Harry Curieux Adamson (American, 1916–2012) titled, Flooded Timber Mallards and Winter Quarters – Widgeon. Both are estimated at $10,000–$15,000 each. Adamson’s portrayals of wildfowl in their natural surroundings are highly sought after by many sporting art enthusiasts.


Harry Curieux Adamson (American, 1916–2012), <em>Winter Quarters - Widgeon</em>, 1971, oil on board, 24" x 36".<br><b>Estimate: $10,000–$15,000</b>
Harry Curieux Adamson (American, 1916–2012), Winter Quarters – Widgeon, 1971, oil on board, 24″ x 36″.
Estimate: $10,000–$15,000

The print portion of Clars’ July 17th sale will have a wide variety of works for all collectors. Several prints will be offered by Bay Area figurative artist Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010) including four intaglio works from his Revisited series printed in 1994. Christopher Brown (American, b. 1951) followers will also be excited to see the three works In the Green, Malage, and Station coming up for auction. Rounding out the sale is a collection of Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904–1989) lithographs formally in the private collection of master printer, Irwin Hollander. The early prints by Dali were trial proofs aside from the known edition of 150. One of the 1965 prints, titled Cosmic Rays Resuscitating Soft Watches, will be offered at $7,000–$10,000.


Harry Curieux Adamson (American, 1916–2012), Flooded Timber Mallards, oil on canvas board, 24" x 36".Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Harry Curieux Adamson (American, 1916–2012), Flooded Timber Mallards, oil on canvas board, 24″ x 36″.
Estimate: $10,000–$15,000

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture & Decorative Arts portion of the sale will be led by a large Empire style gilt bronze and crystal six light chandelier circa 1909, estimated at $6,000–$9,000. The chandelier was original to the Scottish Rite Freemasons lodge 1909, currently the Regency Center, San Francisco, CA. Also coming up the auction block with the same provenance will be another large Empire style chandelier at $5,000–$7,000, and a pair of Empire style gilt bronze wall sconces, circa 1909, having swan supports.


Left: A large Empire style gilt bronze and crystal six light chandelier circa 1909. Provenance: Original to the Scottish Rite Freemasons lodge 1909, currently the Regency Center, San Francisco CA. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Right: A massive Empire style twelve light chandelier with gilt bronze mounts and canopy. Provenance: Regency Ballroom, San Francisco CA. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000

There will be a lovely mélange of decorative arts, including an Italian micro mosaic, a selection of Delftware including a figure of a dalmatian, chargers, faience figures of cows, a Rene Lalique Ambre perfume bottle, etc.


An Italian micromosaic by Cesare Roccheggiani.
An Italian micromosaic by Cesare Roccheggiani.
Estimate: $600–$800
Selection of Continental Faience and Delftware, including 18th and 19th century examples.
Selection of Continental Faience and Delftware, including 18th and 19th century examples.
Estimate: $900–$1,300

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 July 17th sale.


A pair of unheated Burma ruby, diamond and fourteen karat gold ear jackets.
A pair of unheated Burma ruby, diamond and fourteen karat gold ear jackets.
Estimate: $2,500–$3,500

This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of your jewelry collection at accessible price points, including bridal jewelry such as lot 2004, a diamond and eighteen karat white gold ring, estimated at $1,500–$2,500; everyday diamonds such as lot 2076, a diamond and eighteen karat gold necklace, estimated at $1,800–$2,200. To be offered as well are a colorful gemstone selection, including lot 2038, a pair of unheated Burma ruby, diamond and fourteen karat gold ear jackets, estimated at $2,500–$3,500 and lot 2073, a black opal, diamond and fourteen karat gold ring, estimated at $2,000–$3,000. Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life include gentleman rings such as lot 2077, a diamond and fourteen karat bi-color gold ring, estimated at $1,000–$2,000.


A black opal, diamond and fourteen karat gold ring.
A black opal, diamond and fourteen karat gold ring.
Estimate: $2,000–$3,000
Bidding for Clars’ July 16–17, 2022 auctions is available by phone, absentee bid, and live online at Live.Clars.com and through Liveauctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.

Clars Auction Gallery is based in Oakland (CA) and is the largest full-service auction gallery in the Western United States. Clars Auction Gallery has been the chosen auction gallery of a number of institutions and distinguished private collectors across the country including the Richard Mellon Scaife Estate, the Thomas J. Perkins Estate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC).

In the last 5 years, Clars Auction Gallery has sold well over $125,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles and Collectibles and has set multiple new world auction records. Follow Clars on Facebook and Twitter!

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  • Asian Art
  • Auction

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  • Asian Art
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  • Auction

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  • Auction
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  • Auction
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  • Auction