Clars is excited to present our Winter Furniture, Art & Jewelry Auction on December 15th and our Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th. These sales will offer a splendid variety of art, jewelry, Asian works, furniture and decorative arts.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The December 15th auction will showcase a diverse range of items, including Mayan style carved vessels, Native American pottery, Patriano Barela carved sculptures and Kachina figures. Additionally, English and German sterling silver, gold and silver coins, fine porcelain dinner services, and glass stemware and vases from renowned makers and artisans such as Moser, St. Louis, Michael Nourot, and Marialyn Hawke will be featured.

The auction will also present a variety of antique decorative arts, furniture, and rugs, as well as a contemporary furniture collection from an exclusive St. Helena winery. To round out the holiday season, a delightful selection of oversized stuffed animals and a miniature Christmas house will be available.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone gold jewelry, and timepieces in their upcoming December 15th sale. This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of your jewelry collection and elevate your festive celebrations. To be featured in the sale are a nice selection of diamond jewelry, including a diamond and 14k gold wedding ring set, estimated at $3,000–$5,000, as well as a colorful gemstone selection, including a ruby, diamond and 14k gold brooch by Seaman Schepps, estimated at $5,000–$7,000.

Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life include items such as a diamond, onyx and platinum dog brooch, estimated $7,000–$10,000, complemented by classic timepieces like a Patek Philippe 18k gold ‘Calatrava’ wristwatch, estimated at $6,000–$8,000.

Fine Art

Clars’ Fine Art department is pleased to offer a selection of works from diverse and talented artists this December, with highlights by three painters whose influence can still be seen in contemporary art today. First, we are excited to present an oil on canvas portrait by African-American artist, Bob Thompson. Thompson was active in the bustling mid-century art scene in New York City and is known for his colorful figurative paintings that blend traditional Renaissance and Baroque composition with the energy and experimentation of 20th century Abstract Expressionism. In the painting offered in this month’s sale, titled Portrait of a Lady, we see a woman with a disproportionately large head and an aloof expression. Thompson marries traditional portraiture conventions, like the three-quarter view of the subject and the bust-length focus, with abstracted elements of shadow, color, and dimension to create a distinctive and unique image.

Second, we are featuring a striking work by celebrated Chinese-American artist, Hung Liu. Liu was born in Changchun, China in 1948, and emigrated to California in 1984 where she experimented with different methods and media to create a signature painting style. The mixed media work in this month’s auction, titled Yellow Current, is an outstanding example of this style, for which Liu is best known. The image shows a bust view of a young Chinese woman in a fuchsia robe against a golden-yellow background. We see Liu’s trademark technique of using a wash of linseed oil over heavy brushstrokes — giving a drippy, melting, almost underwater appearance to the composition.

Lastly, we will offer an oil on canvas genre scene from American Impressionist, Edward Potthast. Potthast was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and studied in Paris and Munich before settling in New York City. He worked primarily as a lithographer during his early career, only shifting his focus to painting at age 39. Potthast was likely stylistically influenced by his European studies, as techniques of French Impressionists, including Monet, Renoir, and Berthe Morisot can be seen in Potthast’s work. The painting in this month’s sale is a beach scene — the subject for which Potthast is most known. Figures are gathered in groups on a sunny seaside, seated on blankets and under umbrellas, with emphasis on painterly brushstrokes and soft yet vibrant colors. The atmosphere is relaxed, warm, and inviting, a trademark of Potthast’s work.

Asian Art

The Asian Art department will have its year-end offerings of fine Chinese and Japanese works of art sourced from various private collections and estates at the Fine Asian Art & European Décor Auction on December 16th.

The auction is highlighted by a set of three Chinese ‘qianjiang’ enameled ‘landscape’ plaques by the famous late Qing dynasty porcelain artisan, Cheng Men (1838–1908), a late Qing dynasty imperial style zitan lantern, a pair of huanghuali lantern stands, a late Qing dynasty silver-inlaid bronze figure of Guanyin bearing the Shisou mark, a late Qing dynasty uncut purple ground ‘dragon’ robe, a Qing dynasty white jade ruyi scepter, and a magnificent Japanese Meiji period Shibayama lacquered shodana.

Clars is excited to present our Fine Interiors & Design Auction on November 17th and our Art, Furniture and Asian Auction on November 18th. These sales will offer a splendid variety of art, furniture and Asian decorative pieces.

Fine Art

This November at Clars Auctions we are pleased to offer a selection of highlights showcasing the American landscape. One standout is a large oil painting by American artist, Joseph Rusling Meeker, titled Bayou Barbary – Near Lake Maurepas, Louisiana. Meeker was well-known for his depictions of Louisiana swampland, and his work is regarded as a great example of American Luminism — which focused on the effects of light on landscapes. The piece in this month’s auction shows the bayou with a large cypress tree in the foreground and Spanish moss hanging from its branches.

Also featured in our Friday sale is an oil painting by Utah artist, Kirk Randle. This large-scale narrative piece shows a group of Native American men on horseback, riding over the snowy ground, with teepees and trees in the middle ground and the moon glowing over mountains far in the distance. Finally, we present an oil by California Impressionist, Samuel Hyde Harris. The piece depicts a familiar view of green farmland with a house in the background and a large tree in focus, with its branches full with voluminous leaves.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

In our Fine Interiors & Design Auction we will offer a diverse collection of decorative arts and furniture from the 18th to the 20th century. These highlights feature a wide range of items, such as sterling silver, Meissen porcelain, and Steuben glass.

The variety continues with a NY Giants Baseball Club sterling season pass, a Hawaiian Poi bowl, a Wooly mammoth tusk and Bronze Age fragments. Contemporary furniture from a St. Helena cult winery rounds out the selection.

Asian Art

The Asian Art department will present an array of works of art and decorations from China, Japan, and the Himalayas. Some of the highlights from the sale include a Japanese red coral carving of the lucky god Jurogin, a 19th century Chinese export gilt-lacquered desk, and several lots of Chinese export porcelains spanning the period of late Ming dynasty to the late Qing dynasty. There is also a nice group of antique and decorative Tibetan bronze Buddhist statues and figures on offer.

Clars Auctions is delighted to be offering 3 timed auctions in October. These timed auctions allow bidders to register and place one or more bids on lots of interest until the last day listed. If you are outbid, you will be notified and will be given the opportunity to raise your bid.

(please note: you can retract 3 bids per sale)

Art Within Reach: Bidding Closes October 16th, 2 PM PDT

This month in our Art Within Reach sale we are featuring a duo of oil paintings by Dutch Impressionist Paul Rink, paintings by early California artists Victor Hugo Basinet and Luther Evans de Joiner, and contemporary pieces by Carrie Lederer and Jack Ogden. We are also pleased to include prints and photographs by George Demont Otis, Carol Jablonsky, Jim Millett, and more.

The Discovery Sale: Bidding Closes October 16th, 3 PM PDT

In this month’s Discovery Sale we will offer a diverse range of items, including sterling flatware and hollowware from renowned brands like Tiffany, Gorham, and Dominick Haff. This sale will also feature collectibles, such as Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola paraphernalia, as well as carnival architectural elements.

For those interested in antique furniture, we have George III armchairs, a Hepplewhite table, a Biedermeier parlor suite, Federal mirrors, an Art Deco headboard, and Arts & Crafts desks. If you prefer contemporary designers, we carry pieces from brands like Bernhardt, Restoration Hardware, Henredon, and Cisco Home. Additionally, we will showcase exquisite porcelain pieces by Royal Crown Derby, Meissen, Herend, Royal Copenhagen, Lenox, Wedgwood, and Spode. For modern ceramics enthusiasts, our collection includes works by Marja Vallila, Dorren Blumbardt, and Tom Colman. Rounding out this sale is a selection of carpets, including Persian Bidjars, Aubusson styles, and Indo-Nains.

Asian Decorative Arts: Bidding Closes October 16th, 4 PM PDT

This month’s Asian Decorative Arts Auction presents a wide array of Japanese works of art — encompassing exquisite metalwork in bronze and cloisonné along with a captivating selection of lacquered objects. Additionally, we are delighted to offer a noteworthy collection of suiseki viewing stones from a private collection. As a longstanding tradition, we prominently showcase Chinese works of art in this auction, featuring an impressive range of ceramics, intricately carved jade pieces, and various scholarly objects.

Clars is excited to present our October Collections Auction on October 13th. This sale will offer a splendid variety of art, jewelry, and furniture.

Asian Art

Highlights from the Asian Art department include a group of Chinese monochrome glazed ceramic bowls and vases from Song and Yuan dynasties, and Chinese export underglaze blue items from the Ca Mau shipwreck acquired from Sotheby’s Amsterdam in 2007.

Additionally, there will be a selection of Japanese works of art, such as two Edo era tanto daggers and various Meiji period metalwork vases.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture & Decorative Arts department will offer a collection for the discerning connoisseur, including 18th and 19th century furniture and rugs, such as a Francoise Linke table, a collection of Regency Chinoiserie furniture and a Palace Kashan carpet.

Russian bronze sculptures and decorative arts, including Czarist examples and Grachev Bros enameled flatware, will also be up for auction. In addition, there will be a group of modern and contemporary pottery and art glass, and a selection of cameras and lenses available.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepiece department is excited to offer a selection of diamonds, colored gemstone gold jewelry, and timepieces in their upcoming October 13th 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, including a diamond and 14k white gold tennis bracelet, estimated at $4,500–$5,500, and a colorful gem-set 18k gold bracelet, estimated at $3,500–$4,500.

Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life include items such as a diamond and 18k bi-color gold starburst pendant brooch, estimated $1,200–$1,800. This brooch is complemented by classic timepieces, including a Rolex two-tone Oyster Perpetual lady’s wristwatch, estimated at $2,000–$3,000.

Fine Art

This month the Fine Art department is pleased to feature a number of works by contemporary and early California artists, including an oil on canvas painting by painter George Demont Otis. Otis first came to California in 1924, where he worked as a scene designer for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM). He later moved to San Francisco and eventually settled in Marin County. He is known for landscapes of central and Northern California scenes, often depicting eucalyptus trees and rolling hills. In the featured painting this month, titled Marin Redwoods, he depicts a grove of the California state trees with sunlight peeking in through the canopy.

Another highlight this October is a large print by funk artist William T. Wiley. Wiley began his artistic studies at the California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute), and later taught at U.C. Davis alongside artists Roy DeForest and Robert Arneson. Wiley’s work has been the subject of major exhibitions, including showings at the 1980 Venice Biennial, the de Young Museum, and a retrospective at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. The monumental woodcut print featured this month, titled Mr. Bones, features hand coloring by the artist. The piece demonstrates Wiley’s eclectic visual style, including sketchy, movement-heavy lines and text interspersed throughout, with a humorous, surrealist-inspired subject. Also to be featured this month are an important print by Roberto Matta, paintings by Guy Anderson and Arthur Grover Rider, sculptures by Squeak Carnwath, and much more.

Clars is excited to present The Collectors Auction on September 15th. This spectacular collection is overflowing with an impressive variety of art, jewelry, and furniture.

Asian Art

Asian Art will feature various distinguished private collections of Chinese, Himalayan, South Indian, and Southeast Asian religious works of art. One of the highlights is a Chinese Daoist painting of various religious figures.

Also, to be presented in this auction is an extensive collection of Chinese mixed metal ink boxes, silver accessories, and miniature decorative objects.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture & Decorative Arts portion of the sale will be offering an extensive selection of fine objects, including contemporary furniture from an exclusive St. Helena winery, antique furniture and decorative arts from the 17th through 20th centuries, American carousel animals from Gustav Dentzel, Native American blankets and beadwork, and Indian and Middle Eastern decorative arts.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry, in their upcoming September 15th 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, including a diamond and 14k white gold band, estimated at $1,200–$1,800, and a pair of diamond stud earrings, estimated at $1,200–$1,800.

The sale will also include a colorful gemstone selection, including a tanzanite, diamond and silver necklace, estimated at $2,000–$3,000, and a pair of emerald, diamond and platinum-topped 18k gold ear clips, estimated at $1,000–$1,500.

Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life include items from makers Seaman Schepps, in a gem-set and 18k gold, ‘Chessman,’ brooch, estimated at $1,500–$2,500, and an enamel and 18k gold bracelet, by Buccellati, estimated at $10,000–$15,000.

Fine Art

This September at Clars we are excited to offer an original print by French-American naturalist, John James Audubon. Audubon is well known for his illustrations of the birds of North America. The featured engraving is titled Canvas Backed Ducks and dates to 1836.

Also included in our sale are an oil on canvas painting by Thomas Virgil Troyon Hill Jr., depicting California’s Yosemite Valley, and a still-life oil on canvas painting by Luigi Lucioni.

Our Design + Art + Fine Asian Art Auction on August 11th will showcase a wide range of treasures, including Design pieces by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, artwork by renowned artists such as Henrietta Berk and William Laven, and fine Asian jade, porcelain, glazed pottery, and paintings.

Design

The August 11th auction will include a nice selection of Design items. Highlights include a pair of T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Slipper Lounge Chairs and Ottoman, estimated at $4,000–$6,000, and a T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Sofa, Model 1711, estimated at $4,000–$6,000. This rare sofa has the original upholstery and retains the Widdicomb label.

Robsjohn-Gibbings is perhaps most well-known for his work for Widdicomb, where he worked as a designer from 1943–1956. The softness and shapeliness of his designs for the company were a stark contrast to the rigidness of the Bauhaus aesthetic that was popular at the time. Largely inspired by the Classical world, Robsjohn-Gibbings was also recognized for his Klismos furniture (designed in collaboration with Susan and Eleftherios Saridis). He was largely inspired by Greek furniture and design.

Also on offer will be a set of four Mario Bellini Cab Chairs, valued conservatively at $2,000–$4,000, and a Charles and Ray Eames 670 and 671 lounge chair and ottoman, estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

The sale will feature a collection of pottery items, including examples by Marguerite Wildenhain. The collection belonged to Lorelei Brede who studied at Pond Farm with Wildenhain from 1960–1962. Afterwards, Brede opened a pottery studio and became a pottery instructor in her own right. Several pieces by Brede will be included in the auction alongside Windenhain’s works.

Other designers in the sale include Clyde Burt, Betty Feves, Paolo Soleri, Julian Watts, Ward Bennett, Daum, Burgun, and Schverer & Cie, among others.

Fine Art

Clars is pleased to be offering a painting by influential California artist, Henrietta Berk. A member of the Bay Area Figurative Movement, Berk and her peers dedicated much of their practice to restoring focus on human form and experience in an artistic landscape that was primarily concerned with modern abstraction and conceptual art.

As a student of Richard Diebenkorn, whose own work had shifted from abstract expressionism to figurative painting, Berk was introduced to his wife, psychologist Phyllis Deibenkorn, of whom she painted a portrait. Berk’s technique in painting this portrait does not completely eschew abstraction; Diebenkorn is rendered in broad, painterly brushstrokes with an impressionistic feel, bold color choices and a somewhat geometrical approach to the play of light and shadow on her face and hair. Berk’s portrait embodies the concurrence of traditional figurative art with innovative abstraction during the mid-20th century, creating an emotive and dynamic depiction of her subject.

Asian Art

The Fine Asian Art Auction will feature the following items sourced from various distinguished estates and private collection: a 17th century Chinese cloisonné enamel meiping vase, a Kangix period Chinese famille verte phoenix-tail vase, a collection of Chinese embroidered robes, various Tang dynasty sancai glazed pottery, a group of four Qing dynasty imperial edicts, and various archaic and later period jade carvings.

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.

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.

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.

Clars Auction Gallery gladly presents a fine Asian art auction on Sunday, November 20th, offering an exquisite selection of various paintings and calligraphy, archer’s rings, fine porcelains, and other categories of Asian works of 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, pine trees.

The painting is from an important Southern California estate and 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 the 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.