Percy Gray was an American artist known for his landscape and still life paintings. Born 1869 in San Francisco, California, Gray became a prominent figure in the California plein air movement. He studied at the California School of Design and later taught there as well.

Gray’s artwork often depicted the natural beauty of California, particularly its coastal and mountainous landscapes. He had a keen eye for capturing the interplay of light and shadow in his paintings, showcasing a strong sense of atmosphere and mood. Gray’s brushwork was characterized by loose, impressionistic strokes that conveyed a sense of spontaneity and vitality.

Path to the Foothills captures the serene beauty of nature with its delicate brushstrokes and vibrant hues. The way Gray skillfully portrays the winding path leading through the foothills is simply mesmerizing. Gray’s mastery of watercolor shines through in this piece, as he effortlessly captures the essence of the Californian landscape with lush foliage and distant mountains.

Throughout his career, Gray exhibited his works extensively — both locally and nationally. He was a member of various art societies, including the Bohemian Club and the California Art Club. Today, Percy Gray’s paintings can be found in private collections and museums, contributing to the legacy of California Impressionism.

Born in Germany, William Wendt started his artistic practice making furniture in his home country. Upon emigrating to the United States, he turned his focus to painting.

Wendt was among the landscapists who comprised the Eucalyptus School of painters, named for the trees commonly seen in California. These artists applied the looseness of French Impressionism to renderings of the unique geography of California. Wendt was also associated with the Arts and Crafts movement in the state, which espoused a belief in making art in harmony with nature. Among his peers, Wendt was known as the “Dean of Southern California landscape painters,” and his commitment to celebrating the natural beauty of his surroundings continues to inspire generations of West Coast painters.

An exciting addition to our July 14th sale is an oil on canvas painting by California artist William Wendt. Largely self-taught, Wendt often employed a plein-air method while painting his naturalistic landscapes. For the piece in our sale, Wendt traveled north of his Laguna Beach studio to capture an overcast day at the beach in Monterey. The image includes his trademark painterly brushstrokes and prominent use of green tones. Along with his wife, sculptor Julia Bracken Wendt, and a host of other prominent artists, Wendt founded the California Art Club in 1909, which remains an active fine arts organization in the state.

William Keith was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States as a child, eventually settling in San Francisco. After studying watercolor techniques, he began painting with oils, and by 1870, he was working as a full-time fine artist.

Keith is known for his dramatic California landscapes, particularly his depictions of Yosemite National Park and other locations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. His work combines realism with romanticism, capturing the detailed topography of California intimately and monumentally.

Keith’s artistic prowess shines through in his captivating depiction of the Yosemite Valley, featuring majestic horses that add an extra touch of dynamism and wonder to the scene. With meticulous brushstrokes and a keen eye for detail, Keith transports us into the heart of Yosemite’s natural splendor.

Through his artwork, Keith not only immortalizes the raw beauty of Yosemite but also invites us to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between nature and the human spirit. Keith’s paintings played a significant role in shaping public perception of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the serene beauty of Yosemite. Along with those of other artists, his paintings helped inspire the conservation movement and ultimately contributed to the establishment of Yosemite as a national park in 1890.

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.

From the wall frescoes of ancient Rome to the trompe-l’oeil ceiling murals of Renaissance Europe, optical illusions have been a popular trend in visual art for ages.

Artists like Victor Vasarely and M.C. Escher revamped the way artists fool the eye in the 20th century. Perhaps inspired by the revitalized interest in optics, Jasper Johns created an image that toys with our perception of color.

In the work, titled Flag (Moratorium), Johns presents the United States flag with pink, green, and black, replacing the traditional stars and stripes palette. The viewer is invited to stare at the small white dot in the center of the flag for 30 seconds, then avert their gaze to a white wall where they will see the same flag in its original red, white, and blue. This phenomenon, known as a negative afterimage, is caused by stimulation of the cells that carry signals between the eyes and the brain. Johns’ artwork is often layered — whether literally with material or metaphorically with meaning — and Flag (Moratorium) takes this layering a step further, with a covert optical illusion hiding just beneath the surface.

Johns’ flag prints are among his most well-known and iconic works. He first began exploring the American flag as a subject in the mid-1950s and the flag became a recurring motif in his art, representing various themes and concepts. The flag prints emerged during a time when abstract expressionism dominated the art scene. Johns’ use of familiar imagery, like the flag, challenged the prevailing ideas of what art could be. By appropriating this national symbol, Johns questioned the boundaries between art and everyday objects, inviting viewers to reconsider their own perceptions and interpretations.

The flag prints were created through various printmaking techniques, such as lithography, screen printing, and etching, allowing Johns to experiment with different textures and color variations. Today, Johns’ flag prints are highly regarded and can be found in significant museum collections worldwide. They continue to be celebrated as essential contributions to contemporary art history.

“I knew I would be a painter. It never occurred to me that I would do anything else,” March Avery.

Born into a family of artists — her father being Milton Avery and mother Sally Michel — March Avery cultivated a style that was distinctly her own. Growing up, she was surrounded by artists who were friends of her parents. She began creating by the age of two through painting, drawing and sculpting. She developed a style of her own that celebrates brilliant color and abstract forms.

Clars’ June 16th and 17th auctions will offer an extensive collection of Japanese woodblock prints, important artwork from artists such as William Keith and Albrecht Durer, a selection of fine Native American baskets, and beautiful diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry that will stun at any event.

Asian Art

The Asian Art department will offer an extensive collection of Japanese woodblock prints by Kawase Hasui (Japanese, 1883–1957). Hasui is a prominent Japanese artist who was known for his exquisite woodblock prints, particularly his landscapes. He was a key figure in the shin-hanga (“new prints”) movement, which revived traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking techniques in the early 20th century. Highlighting the collection of over twenty woodblock prints, Hasui’s Winter Moon at Toyama, is estimated at $2,000–$4,000. Hasui’s works continue to be highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts. His contributions to the shin-hanga movement and his skill in capturing the essence of Japan’s natural beauty have made him one of the most celebrated Japanese printmakers of the 20th century.

Fine Art

Clars is pleased to offer a monumental painting by William Keith (American, 1838–1911) titled, Into the Yosemite Valley, circa 1895–1906, on Friday, June 16th. Estimated at $100,000–$120,000, this 36″ x 60″ canvas has remained in the same family for well over 100 years since it was originally commissioned by Robert C. and Francesca Hall (Pittsburgh, PA) from the artist. Mr. Hall is referenced as such in the book, Keith, Old Master of California, Volume I, by Brother Cornelius (1942) on page 451. This is one of the most important works by Keith to have come to auction in well over ten years.

Clars is also excited to offer a striking example of Albrecht Durer’s (German, 1471–1528) Sea Monster in the Friday June 16th sale. This 1498 engraving depicts a nude female beside a scaled and bearded merman, thought by many to represent the abduction of Scylla by the sea demon Glaucus of Greek Mythology. This printing is on laid paper with a High Crown with Flourish watermark, categorized as a Meder a printing, and was purchased from Christie’s Old Master Prints auction in 2011. The engraving is estimated at $25,000–$30,000.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture & Decorative Arts department will offer a selection of fine Native American baskets in the Friday, June 16th auction, as well as other European decor in the June 17th auction.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry in their upcoming June 16th 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 lot 7000: a yellow diamond, diamond and fourteen karat white gold ring, estimated at $4,000–$6,000; and lot 7003: a pair of diamond and eighteen karat white gold earrings, estimated $3,500–$4,500.

The sale will also include a colorful gemstone selection, including lot 7066: a pair of emerald, diamond and fourteen karat gold earrings and necklace suite, estimated $5,000–$7,000; lot 7004: a Mozambique, diamond and platinum ring, estimated $3,500–$4,500; and lot 7106: a coral, seed pearl and fourteen karat gold convertible necklace, estimated $3,000–$5,000. Other wearable pieces in the sale that will highlight your everyday life include lot 7110: A pair of eighteen karat gold earrings, Tiffany & Co, estimated $1,500–$2,500; and lot 7123: a stainless steel wristwatch, Superocean, Breitling, estimated at $1,200–$1,800.

Working across multiple mediums, David Hockney is known for his painting, drawing, prints, photography, collage, set design and digital media.

Hockney was born on July 9, 1937 in Bradford, United Kingdom, and studied at Bradford School of Art and London’s Royal College of Art. In 1964, Hockney moved to California. Drawing inspiration from the region’s light, color, and landscape, his swimming pool paintings garnered him international recognition.

During the 1980’s, Hockney began creating intricate photo collages that he called “joiners.” His early photo-collages consisted of polaroid photographs in a grid. He evolved his style to photo lab processed 35mm photographs, creating abstract representations of the scenes he had photographed in a more organic layout. Photos were taken over a number of minutes, highlighting Hockney’s interest in showing the passing of time, and often show slightly different perspectives of the subject. Deeply inspired by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Greorge Braque, Hockney’s photographic collages are a historical nod to the cubist collages that inspired him. He remains one of the greatest living artists of his generation.

Joseph Raphael, a California native, studied at the California School of Design.

He saved money during the 1890s, first as a newspaper illustrator and later as a sign painter, to continue his artistic studies overseas. He spent most of his life aboard, living 36 years in Paris and the Netherlands.

Keeping strong ties to San Francisco, he exhibited his paintings regularly in local shows and through Albert Bender, a patron of early works of Ansel Adams and Diego Rivera. Before World War II, he returned to San Francisco and maintained a studio on 345 Sutter Street until his death on December 11, 1950.

Clars’ May 12th and 13th auctions will offer an impressive selection of Chinese and Japanese works of art, captivating paintings from Anthony Liggins, a range of furniture and decorative items sure to delight audiences, and beautiful jewelry that will stun at any event.

Asian Art

The Asian Art Department will offer a fine selection of Chinese and Japanese works of art, headlined by a Ming dynasty gilt bronze figure of Guanyin. This magnificent Buddhist figure, from an important southern California collector, is distinguished by its large size and superb workmanship in the bronze casting and gilt-lacquering.

We will also be offering a late Qing dynasty period imperial embroidered yellow-ground twelve symbol dragon robe for an empress. This rare Chinese imperial textile comes from a Colorado collection. Rounding out the sale is a significant collection of Chinese Qing dynasty snuff bottles from a Mill Valley collection formed over the past half century. The collection is comprised of primarily underglaze blue porcelain bottles as well as various glass bottles from the Imperial Workshop during the 19th century.

Fine Art

This May at Clars we are pleased to offer two acrylic on canvas paintings by Atlanta-Miami-based artist, Anthony Liggins. Liggins, born in 1965, is a leading figure in the American abstract expressionist resurgence, as well as a prominent African American artist with an international presence.

Liggins names music and dance as two of his major inspirations. In the two pieces offered at Clars this month, titled Blue Angel and Sacred Oasis, the impacts of rhythm and movement are apparent. Melting streaks of color echo sonic waves, which are interspersed with repetitive, grid-like dot work, and bold swaths of color play between rigid lines to create a dynamic interaction of the geometric and organic. The two paintings by Anthony Liggins are each estimated at $4,000–$6,000.

Furniture & Decorative Arts

The Furniture and Decorative Arts department will feature a range of items sure to delight audiences. Highlights include a Steinway and Sons Model M Grand Piano, circa 1929, Serial No. 261276, estimated at $8,000–$12,000.

Also on offer will be an assortment of exceptional porcelain dinner and stemware services, including Royal Crown Derby, Meissen, Ginori, Herend, Baccarat, Steuben and other fine makers.

Fine Jewelry & Timepieces

The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces department at Clars is excited to offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstones and gold jewelry in their upcoming May 12th 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 ruby and fourteen karat gold necklace and earring suite, estimated for $3,000–$5,000; and a sapphire, diamond and fourteen karat white gold necklace and earring suite, estimated for $2,000–$3,000.