American artist Tom Wesselmann began his career in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, later moving to New York City to teach art, where his creativity blossomed, and he began his Great American Nude series.

For over a decade, Wesselmann added to the series, which consisted of works both small and large depicting the nude female form in a variety of poses, and always surrounded by objects familiar to his American audience, including ice cream sundaes, radiators, and Camel cigarettes, to name a few. These elements in Wesselmann’s work, which were sometimes collaged from photographs or painted by the artist himself, led many to include him in the burgeoning Pop Art movement of the 1960s.

Wesselmann himself rejected this label, saying he utilized the objects in his compositions not to make a statement on consumerism, but because of his interest in the aesthetics of the everyday. Indeed, the works in Wesselmann’s Great American Nude series show Coca-Cola bottles, presidential portraits, and rotary telephones decorating the background of each room; objects of American mundanity, juxtaposed with the playful and dynamic nude figures for which the artist is known.

Clars is starting Spring with our Design Auction, to be held on March 16, 2023. Highlights include pieces by Hans Wegner, Stan Bitters, Toshiko Takaezu, Gertrud and Otto Natzler, George Nakashima, Charles and Ray Eames, among others. There will also be a selection of silver including Christofle and Tiffany.

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The Spring Design Auction will have numerous highlights across genres and countries. On offer will be a fine selection of pottery and ceramics including a Stan Bitters medallion, 3’2″dia., estimated at $12,000–$15,000. Bitters is renowned for his influence on the Californian arts and crafts scene since the 1960s.

Another prominent lot in the auction is a large Gertud and Otto Natzler bowl, which has a fine blue-grey mat glaze and measures 12.75″w. The bowl is valued conservatively at $5,000–$7,000. Other ceramicists in the sale include Toshiko Takaezu, Ka-Kwong Hui, Annabeth Rosen, Richard Hirsch, Brother Thomas Bezanson, etc.

There will be numerous furniture highlights in the auction, including a Michel Buffet floor lamp, expected to sell for $7,000–$10,000. Also, to be offered are several lots by designer Hans J. Wegner such as a set of eight ‘Heart’ Chairs estimated at $4,200–$5,200, a rare pair of JH-101 Lounge chairs and JH-103 Sofa, among others. In addition, there will be a pair of Finn Juhl NV-45’s offered, with an estimate of $20,000–$30,000.

For American furniture, there will be a Philip and Kelvin Laverne Fantasia coffee table, estimated at $5,000–$7,000, a Charles and Ray Eames 670 and 671 lounge chair and ottoman, and an Ettore Sottsass Westside lounge chair, just to name a few.

As for early 20th Century items, a Tiffany Studios table lamp, with Vine Border (Acorn) shade, will be estimated at $7,000–$9,000.

Several sterling silver lots will be offered such as a Tiffany & Co. Audubon flatware set, valued at $7,000–$9,000, and a Christofle, Sceaux flatware set, expected to sell for $6,000–$9,000.

Our February 10th and 11th Auctions will offer stunning jade from China, rare furniture and collectibles, and Edwardian and Art Deco jewelry from private estates.

Asian Art

On February 11th, the Asian Art department will feature two fine Chinese jade lots comprising a set of imperial quality Chinese white jade belt buckle and associated ornaments depicting dragons and cranes from the 18th to 19th century.

The other lot is a Republic Period Mughal style celadon jade vase and linked cover finely carved in low relief with bamboo, prunus and chrysanthemum along with a pair of magpies. It also has a pair of openwork peony handles and a finial, all set with a linking chain. It is estimated at $4,000–$6,000.

Another imperial quality piece being offered in this month’s auction is a 18th century Chinese mother-of-pearl inlaid black lacquered box and cover, which is decorated with a stylized longevity character painted in gold lacquer, surrounded by a profusion of floral roundels inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

There will be a fine selection of furniture, porcelains, coins, silver, and other objects de vertu in our February 10th sale. Highlights include a pair of French Napoleonic demilune bronze mounted tables circa 1850, estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department is excited to offer a selection of antique diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry in their upcoming February 10th sale.

This sale features a variety of lovely new and old wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of your jewelry collection at accessible price points, including a colorful gemstone selection with an Art Deco star sapphire and diamond ring, estimated at $800–$1,200 and a pair of emerald, diamond and fourteen karat bi-color gold earrings, estimated at $1,500–$2,500. Other exquisite pieces that will highlight your everyday life are represented by an Edwardian diamond and platinum pendant brooch, estimated at $2,000–$4,000, and an antique diamond and eighteen karat gold pendant, estimated at $1,200–$1,800.

Clars’ February 9th Important Winter Modern + Contemporary Art Auction will feature a selection of artwork from an array of international artists.

A featured highlight this month is a watercolor on paper by influential German-Swiss artist Paul Klee. This piece, titled Fragment of a Mural (Fragment einer Wandmalerei), shows an abstract image that is left to the viewer to decipher. Klee is known for the use of geometric forms in his work — often building his arrangements with triangles and rectangles — but here we see an unrecognizable object, made more mysterious by the title identifying it as just one section from a larger composition. Klee is perhaps even better known for his innovative take on color theory. The blending of purple into red into gray tones seen in this work illustrates Klee’s opinion that small sections of color could be unified to create a harmonious visual. Furthermore, during his time as an instructor at the Bauhaus, Klee taught as a master of stained glass, often using smoking techniques to color pieces of glass. The muted tones in this watercolor echo the hazy, blended hues that would result from smoking glass. The work on paper is estimated at $100,000–$150,000.

Also included in the sale this month is a work on paper, titled Green Hill, by American artist, Mark Tobey. As a founder of the Northwest School in Seattle, Washington, Tobey imbued in his peers an appreciation of East Asian culture — the effects of which are visible in Green Hill, with its muted color palette echoing Shan Shui landscapes, and an expressionist style that mimics calligraphy. The misty atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest was a driving influence on Tobey, who used earthy tones to illustrate Green Hill, with the green of the hill obscured almost completely by a heavy fog against a sepia sky. Green Hill is dated 1957, the year before Tobey became the second American artist to win the International Grand Prize at the 1958 Venice Biennale. The work is estimated at $30,000–$50,000.

Another important work in the February sale is a steel sculpture by acclaimed Mexican artist, Rufino Tamayo. The piece depicts two figures, likely one male and one female based on their clothing, standing with hands overlapped in an uncomplicated embrace. The stylized figures are reminiscent of the simplified figures seen in well-known Tamayo paintings like Tres Personajes, with dominant geometric lines replacing the naturalistic curves of the human body. The sculpture shows the figures’ bodies as rectangles, with semicircle arms and circular hands. The male figure’s legs and female figure’s skirt are triangular, and the base is a narrow rectangular platform. The gray patina of the metallic material is consistent throughout and recalls the stone and clay sculptures of the Zapotec, an indigenous Pre-Colombian culture from whom Tamayo claimed both heritage and inspiration. The work is estimated at $70,000–$100,000.

Next featured in the February sale is the Makemono lithograph scroll by Catalan painter and sculptor, Joan Miró, created circa 1956. Considered a major figure in the Surrealist family, Miró uses this color-printed Chanton silk scroll to marry a traditional East Asian medium with his “automatism” technique, a method of revealing an individual’s psyche through spontaneous drawing and painting. Makemono presents form and color before narrative, showing abstract human figures interspersed with birds, eyes, and nonobjective forms derived purely from the artist’s imagination. From an edition of only 50, the vibrant scroll is anchored by wooden batons on each of the two ends and includes its original carved and painted wood box. The scroll is estimated at $20,000–$30,000.

Other notable artworks to be offered in the sale include prints by Yayoi Kusama, a ceramic plate by Pablo Picasso, and a painting by Guy Anderson.

The Estate of Joanna Barnes and Jack Warner (Santa Barbara, California), will highlight Clars’ January auctions.

Asian Art

A selection of woodblock prints will lead the Asian Section of the January auctions. Among the woodblock prints created by the great Shin-hanga artist, Kawase Hasui (1883–1957), is the design Zojo Temple, Shiba, commissioned in 1925. Zojo Temple, Shiba is regarded as Hasui’s most outstanding and iconic creation. Among collectors of Japanese prints of the Shin-hanga movement, it is one of the most sought-after and valuable designs.

Fine Art

Clars is pleased to be offering the Estate of Joanna Barnes and Jack Warner (Santa Barbara, California). Ms. Barnes was a Hollywood film actress featured in movies such as Auntie Mame (1958) and The Parent Trap (1961). Mr. Warner was a prominent architect featured in numerous issues of Architectural Digest. One of the highlights from the estate is a large monotype (diptych) by Charles Arnoldi (American, b. 1946), Untitled (GTW-CA-SF-3-86), estimated at $12,000–$18,000. This colorful work exemplifies Arnoldi’s bold style.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

Clars’ Furniture & Decorative Arts department will be offering a selection of Spanish Colonial religious figures including a Spanish Colonial santos figure, 18th century, with inset glass eyes and painted details, overall 22″h estimated at $2,000–$4,000, and a Spanish Colonial gilt and polychrome decorated santos figure, retaining original pigment decorated face with glass eyes, and traces of pigment to the body, 37″h x 28″w, also with a $2,000–$4,000 estimate. Rounding out the sale, our fine silver and Vertu department will offer a selection of fine sterling silver from important Bay Area estates and collections.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department at Clars is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry, in their upcoming January 13th sale. This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of your jewelry collection at accessible price points, including a colorful gemstone selection with a jadeite and fourteen karat gold ring, estimated at $800–$1,200, and an opal, diamond and fourteen karat gold pendant necklace, estimated at $2,500–$3,500. Other wearable pieces that will highlight your everyday life are featured by makers such as Tiffany & Co., represented in a coral and eighteen karat gold brooch, estimated at $1,200–$1,800.

The December 16th–18th auction series will include the Winter Fine Jewelry & Timepieces Auction and the Winter Design + Art + Asian Art Auction.

Jewelry & Timepieces

Clars is thrilled to host their Winter Fine Jewelry & Timepieces Auction on Friday, December 16th, beginning at 10 AM PST. The sale includes a fine selection of diamond, colored gemstone, antique and signed jewelry.

The sale is highlighted by a selection of important diamonds, which includes lot 5241, a 4.01 carats VVS1 Fancy Yellow diamond, diamond and eighteen karat white gold ring, estimated at $40,000–$60,000; and lot 5229, a 7.75 carats old European-cut diamond ring, estimated at $25,000–$35,000.

Complementing the auction will be exceptional gemstones, including lot 5043, a 13.64 carats Colombian emerald ring, estimated at $15,000–$25,000; lot 5244, a natural pearl, diamond and platinum pendant, estimated at $10,000–$20,000; and lot 5033, a jadeite “A” jade, diamond and platinum ring, estimated at $6,000–$9,000.

Makers, such as Van Cleef & Arpels, are represented in lot 5246, a diamond and white gold brooch, estimated at $25,000–$35,000, and lot 5247, a pair of diamond ear clips, estimated at $10,000–$20,000. Tiffany & Co. is represented in lot 5005, a sapphire, diamond and palladium bracelet, estimated at $5,000–$7,000. Lot 5069, a pair of coral, onyx, emerald and diamond pendant earrings, will present Cartier, estimated at $8,000–$12,000.

Also leading the sale is a selection of timepieces led by lot 5184, an early Rolex small crown Submariner wristwatch, ref 6205, estimated at $50,000–$70,000; lot 5178, an eighteen karat gold wristwatch, ‘Hourglass,’ Patek Phillepe, estimated at $4,000–$6,000; and lot 5177, an eighteen karat rose gold wristwatch, Tri-Compax Chronograph, Universal Geneve, estimated at $3,000–$5,000.

Design

The December 18th auction will be led with Design. There will be a large selection of pottery including several pieces by Toshiko Takaezu. Takaezu, a Hawaiian ceramicist of Japanese descent, is most well known for her ‘Closed forms.’ Clars is pleased to offer four ‘Closed Forms’ in the auction; the largest, a ‘Closed Form (with rattle),’ commanding a conservative estimate of $4,000–$6000. Other designers include Viola Frey and Jim Melchert, among other Clay Funk potters.

Another highlight of the sale will be a Napoleone Martinuzzi Incaminciato vase, estimated at $8,000–$12,000. Incaminciato glass is a Murano glass technique that overlays lattimo (or milk glass) with layers of transparent colored glass, in this case cobalt blue. There will also be numerous noteworthy Italian glass items on offer by various designers such as Carlo Scarpa, Fontana Arte, Vittorio Zecchin, etc.

Beyond pottery and glass, there will also be a fine collection of furniture, including a Mathews Furniture Shops fall front desk estimated at $3,500–$4,500. Numerous noteworthy names will be featured, including Charles and Ray Eames, John Dickinson, Mies Van Der Rohe, George Nakashima, Vladimir Kagan Couture, etc.

Asian Art

The Asian Art department will offer a fine group of Chinese scholar’s rocks hailing from a Piedmont, CA collection. The collection consists of rocks of various forms suggesting mountain landscapes as well as an array of abstract imagery evoking mythical animals and sagely figures. The collection also features rocks of various sizes ranging from the small desktop variety to the imposing variety used for furnishing scholar’s studios and gardens.

Also up for auction is set of three watercolor paintings by the famous Burmese artist, Mg Tun Hla (1874–1946). Hla was one of the first and most important Burmese artists who painted in Western watercolor style in the early 20th century. The three watercolors depict street scenes from Mandalay, the former capitol of Burma.

Fine Art

Clars Fine Art department is excited to offer two ceramic pitchers by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973). The two works, titled Visage and Quatre Visage, were both produced at the Madoura de Vallauris workshop in the 1950’s and have Picasso and Madoura stamped beneath. They will be offered at $6,000–$9,000 and $4,000–$6,000.

Clars Auction Gallery is thrilled to invite you to join our Winter Fine Jewelry and Timepieces Auction on Friday, December 16th, beginning 10 AM PST.

The sale includes an exquisite selection of diamond, colored gemstone, and signed jewelry from makers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Trabert & Hoeffer Mauboussi.

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.

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.

The September 16 Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale at Clars, totaled over $1.3M across 230 lots.

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.”

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

Clars Auction Gallery had a nearly 100% sell through rate for the Fall Design sale, with just above 100 lots selling for over $210,000 total.

Clients from across the country were vying for Design lots, with many items selling at or above the high estimate. Cristina Campion, Associate Director of 20th Century Design at Clars commented, “strong sales like this one really demonstrate that Clars is a recognized name among Design collectors across the United States.”

Top picks included an Angelo Mangiarotti ‘Eros’ Dining Table sold for $18,750, with a $6,000–$9,000 estimate. Other auction highlights include a suite of eight Mario Bellini Cab Chairs, Model 413, that brought $10,625, a set of Christian Liaigre Bazane Stools that sold for $9,375, a Charles and Ray Eames 670 and 671 chair and ottoman that realized $8,125, and a Vladimir Kagan Ondine Chair that commanded $8,125.

Clars is gearing up for it’s next Design auction on December 18th, and is hopeful that the department will continue to see an upward trajectory in sales.