This November we are excited to present several very special works in our Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale.

For the first time at auction, we present a work by Austrian painter, Goetz Valien. Valien worked for much of his adult life as a movie poster artist and is also known for winning a lawsuit against the estate of German painter, Martin Kippenberger. This win allowed him to take credit for his role in the painting of the Paris Bar series, previously credited solely to Kippenberger. Valien’s work in this month’s sale, titled Ego, is a monumental acrylic on canvas painting of a dream-like scenario in which a figure walks through a maze of metal bars at twilight, evoking influences from Edward Hopper and Giorgio de Chirico.

Also coming in our November sale is a large screenprint by American Pop Art icon, Andy Warhol. This piece, titled Letter to the World (The Kick) from Martha Graham, depicts American dancer and choreographer Graham performing in a full-skirted dress in tones of blue. Graham is known for her unique technique, emphasizing “contraction and release,” and having a major influence on American dance since the 1920s. This print is one in a series of three that Warhol made featuring Graham, and it features his trademark screen-printing style that is comprised of solid blocks of monochromatic tones with a strong outline and lined detail — like the pink seen here in the folds of Graham’s dress.

Another highlight this November is an oil on canvas painting by Latvian-American artist, Raimonds Staprans. Staprans is known for his large swaths of bright color, often oranges and blues, and his understated treatment of subject. This piece, titled Red Sun, depicts a stylized landscape rendered primarily in saturated tones of red and orange with patches of bright green and blue. The sky dominates the image, taking up more than half of the canvas with its red and pink hues surrounding the pale orange dot of the sun hovering over the horizon. Staprans moved from his native Latvia in the early 20th century and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he has remained active since. Staprans hosted a 60 year retrospective exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and the San Jose Museum of Art in 2018.

One of the many highlights of the Design portion of the sale will be a Paul Frankl (1886–1958) Speed chair — the form originally designed in 1935. The iconic form is a testament to Frankl’s streamlined and architectural designs of the period, which took Design to the next level. Paul T. Frankl was one of the most important and influential designers working in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Clars is pleased to offer an example from 1946 that was a fixture of Charlton Heston’s office at his custom Mid Century Modern 3.5 acre hilltop mansion in Beverly Hills, CA. Heston used to refer to the mansion as “The house that Ben-Hur built,” as this project was undertaken after the filming of the legendary motion picture.

Finally, we are pleased to offer a sculpture by contemporary Portuguese multimedia artist, Joana Vasconcelos. This sculpture, titled Cesar, was formed by covering a ceramic statue of a dog in a net of colorful, hand-woven crochet detail. A quote from the National Museum of Women in the Arts reads that in this series, Vasconcelos brings to light the “dissonance between handcrafted and manufactured” by covering a mass-produced dog statue with a painstakingly crafted textile. The juxtaposition is both jarring and aesthetically appealing; the colorful yarn seamlessly fits the dog’s body, while at the same time, the life-size animal appears lifelike enough to become uncanny.

This exciting work, along with others from Raymond Pettibon, Christopher Brown, Matt Gondek, and more will be available to bid on in our carefully curated November sale. Plus, we are delighted to offer Design items crafted by Tiffany Studios, Michael Taylor, John Cederquist, Dirk Van Erp, and more. This sale truly has something for every collector!

Clars’ Fine Art department is excited to present our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction on September 14th. The sale will offer an array of artworks spanning movements and decades, with notable works for all collectors.

An important highlight to be offered in this sale is an oil on canvas by French artist Henry Moret (French, 1856–1913) titled Maisons à Volendam, Hollande. Moret, while trained in the Neo-Classical and Orientalist style at the École National des Beaux-Arts, took much inspiration from Impressionist artists and painted the Western European countryside and Coastlines, incorporating vibrant tones of blue, green, and peachy orange. This work, completed in 1900, is a strong example of his bold palette choices and forceful and short brushstrokes, a style he credited much to Claude Monet. This painting will be offered at $50,000–$70,000.

Also to be featured in our Fall Modern + Contemporary Art Auction are two large-scale prints by American artist Robert Longo (American, b. 1953). Longo, who has also worked in film and sculpture, is most known for his drawings and prints in the Men in the Cities series. These images depict models in stark black and white formal attire whose contorted poses convey dancing, fighting, or other active and sometimes violent movements. Longo created these images by blowing up photographs of his friends to a larger-than-life scale and tracing his subjects to paper. These iconic artworks have appeared in film and television series including American Psycho and Inventing Anna. Clars will be offering both James and Tillman at $15,000–$20,000 each.

Yet another notable print to be offered is Andy Warhol’s (American, 1928–1987) Sitting Bull — a print originally intended for the Cowboys and Indians suite completed in 1986. The print, valued at $40,000–$60,000, displays the iconic portrait of Sitting Bull, derived from an archival photo of the Sioux Chief. Warhol of course adds a flare of dramatized color in his Pop Art style to blend the understanding of historical and modern-day imagery.

The sale will also offer numerous photographs by renowned artists such as Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, and David LaChapelle. One notable work in this category is a photograph by American artist and writer Peter Beard (American, 1938–2020), most known for his images of Africa. Beard’s book The End of the Game, first published in 1965, documented the issues of starvation and poaching facing wildlife in Kenya, and brought the artist international attention. The photograph in our September sale titled Fayel Tall depicts Kenyan model Fayel Tall posing in a mudcloth-style skirt covered in geometric designs. An inscription on the left of the photograph quotes a passage from The End of the Game describing a beautiful woman. The unique photograph will be auctioned off for $20,000–$40,000.

This sale will also offer additional important works by renowned artists such as Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, Hunt Slonem, George Morrison, and Ruth Asawa, among others.

Clars is delighted to be offering the Collection of Vanna and N. Lee Lacy on Friday, July 14th in our Tribal Arts, Interiors, Art & Jewelry Auction.

In the 1960s, the wunderkind Hollywood producer, N. Lee Lacy, fell in love with the African, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian, and other Tribal Arts that he was seeing in galleries and auction houses in Paris, Brussels, and London (he had a home in London as a base). His uncommon creativity, writing for and producing TV series and iconic TV ads (winning Best Of The Film Festival awards in Cannes, Venice, London, and NYC), led to him have international offices with 40 writers working for his production company, which he headquartered in Hollywood.

Lacy always collected tribal art, with Hollywood presenting buying opportunities in Pre-Columbian works in the 1960s and African works in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In the 1960s and 1970s, Lacy also bought from auctions in London, NY, and Paris and at galleries in those cities and Brussels, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Lee married Vanna Warmack Lacy 35 years ago. Together they fell in love with Oceanic Art, spurred by several voyages to the South Seas accompanying their friend, Caroline Yacoe. Yacoe is an Oceanic scholar, lecturer, author, art collector/dealer, and documentary filmmaker specializing in recording traditional ceremonies and cultures on remote Pacific Islands. This was also a prime period for acquiring authentic, old Indonesian pieces being brought to California by prescient dealers.

Lastly, while producing and creating films in Hollywood and investing in property and living in Beverly Hills, the Lacy’s opened a gallery on the famed Melrose Place (which became the name of a hugely popular TV series) showing paintings and sculptures of modern and contemporary artists. Vanna was the Lacy Gallery’s Director. After a successful run of more than a decade, the Lacy’s retired their gallery. The paintings and sculptures they had most loved personally, plus their mostly decades-old tribal collections, resided with them in their Beverly Hills and then their Palm Springs home until June when it was time to move themselves and their art collections along.

Clars’ Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction brought in active bidders from across the globe vying for artwork from world famous artists and design from master woodworkers.

The sale began with modern and contemporary art. A featured highlight was Wayne Thiebaud’s (American, 1920–2011) Portrait of Jean Lee Porter, 1951/52, whose provenance was strong and led to a hammer of $31,500. The subject, Jean Lee Porter, was a big band singer in San Francisco and her own notoriety certainly contributed to the interest in the piece.

Another featured highlight was March Avery’s (American, b. 1932), Resting Nude, 1989, oil on canvas. Her stark style of painting, with bold colors and simple linework, appeals to the 21st century minimalist aesthetic. This particular work depicts a female nude — a subject that is highly sought after — and sold for $28,980.

This sale also included a fine example of Alecos Fassianos’ (Greek, 1935–2022) work, Figure in Blue, 1963, oil on canvas, which sold for $20,160. The piece features a quite graphic and color-saturated palette. Several phone bidders fed the competitive bidding.

Squeak Carnwath’s (American, b. 1947), Not Fact, 1996, oil and alkyd on canvas, sold for $18,900 — achieving the 4th highest record price for the artist. Squeak Carnwath, like Thiebaud, is another Bay Area figure. She lives in Oakland and taught art at both UC Davis and UC Berkeley, so her name is notable in Northern California. Her paintings are playful and youthful, appealing to the younger audience buying contemporary art.

Jasper Johns’ (American, b. 1930), Flag (Moratorium), 1969, offset lithograph in colors, edition 97/300, sold for $17,640. This piece was made as a political and anti-war expression, and in the highly politicized climate we live in now, powerful imagery and strong statements feel pertinent and valuable to collectors.

The Design department had strong prices realized across various categories in the Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction. Leading the show was an Arthur Espenet Carpenter dining suite, consisting of eight Wishbone dining chairs and a dining table. The chairs and table realized a combined $40,950, with numerous bidders vying for the lots. Also, a Philip and Kelvin LaVerne ‘Marriage Whirl’ table realized $12,600.

Cristina Campion, Associate Director of 20th Century Design, noted, “we’re certainly seeing strong results for American master woodworkers, including Espenet — as well as other American icons like the design duo, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.”

The sale included master craftsmanship from across genres and cultures. A highlight was a Tony Hunt totem pole dating to 1990, measuring at a mighty 8′11″. There were several telephone bidders on the totem pole that brought the final sale price to $20,160.

Danish Modern furniture preformed quite well, with a pair of Finn Juhl NV-45 lounge chairs selling for $25,200, and a single Finn Juhl NV-45 lounge chair realizing $16,380. “There’s always a market for noteworthy and iconic Danish Design at auction,” commented Ms. Campion.

Clars’ next auctions will be held on July 14th & 15th. Consignments are always invited. Schedule a private or virtual valuation appointment by emailing [email protected].

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne were a father son furniture making team who worked out of New York. They made works in pewter and bronze and opened their showroom in the 1960s on East 57th street.

Their earlier works focused on mythology and antiquities from across the globe, and the pair experimented with chemical reactions to create a patinated effect reminiscent of antiquities.

The LaVerne’s furniture pieces, including the “Marriage Whirl” table, have become highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts of mid-century modern design. The intricate Eastern motif in the “Marriage Whirl” table depicts an ancient ceremony of great happiness. It was designed in patinated bronze and pewter with hand-painted polychrome enamels.

The LaVerne’s works were influential during the mid-20th century and continue to be admired and collected today for their artistic expression and innovative approach to furniture design.

Finn Juhl’s NV-45 Chair is highly regarded for its innovative design, craftsmanship, and contribution to Danish modernism.

Three Finn Juhl NV-45 Chairs commended a total of $41,580 at Clars Summer Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

Juhl initially began work on the NV-45 chair design in 1941, finalizing and first displaying the chair to the world at the annual Cabinetmakers’ Guild Exhibition in the fall of 1945. The NV-45 Chair is a striking and iconic piece of furniture. It features a sculptural wooden frame, with an exaggerated curved backrest, and organically shaped armrests.

The natural and sinuous form starkly contrasted to Juhl’s previous chair designs, which tended to be boxier. Called “the mother of all modern chairs” by the Japanese professor and design collector, Mr. Noritsugu Oda, the iconic NV-45 chair is one of Finn Juhl’s absolute masterpieces. The chair’s design reflects Juhl’s interest in organic forms and his ability to merge aesthetics with comfort. It continues to be sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts around the world, serving as a testament to Juhl’s enduring legacy in furniture design.

California has a lengthy history of woodworking and studio furniture design. One of the most renowned master woodworkers was Arthur Espenet Carpenter.

Born in 1920, Arthur Espenet Carpenter was a self-taught furniture maker. He began making wood turned bowls at his studio in San Francisco in the late 1940s to early 1950s. By the mid-1950s, he had expanded to build custom furniture. Carpenter found that production was so busy that he felt disconnected from the furniture building process. In 1957, he decided that it was time to relocate to Bolinas, California, where he custom built his own house for his family. At his Bolinas studio, Espenet would create unique one-of-a-kind pieces for his clients, as well as his most well-known iconic pieces, such as the Wishbone armchair.

Espenet valued function as well as form. While his furniture pieces appear quite sculptural, they were also designed with comfort and utility in mind. For example, the arm hits the armrest of the Wishbone chair at just the right angle. Clars is offering a suite of eight Wishbone chairs, including two armchairs, with an auction estimate of $20,000–$30,000 in our June 15th Design auction. Also to be offered is a stunning dining table having five butterfly inlays, estimated at $10,000–$15,000.

While there’s a certain simplicity or minimalism to Espenet’s designs, great attention is also paid to the finer details. An example of this point is the drop-down cabinet, which features a wood turned locking knob above well carved hinged supports, that sold at Clars for $5,937.

Another example of Espenet’s extraordianry attention to detail can be seen in a set of two nesting walnut low tables, which commanded $6,875 at auction. While seemingly simple, the tables feature exposed dovetail joinery.

The featured Arthur Espenet Carpenter jewelry box below, while quite functional, is also very sculptural. The contoured form has six bandsaw-carved drawers that feature prominently on the case.

Though Arthur Espenet Carpenter passed away in 2006, his legacy continues with his son, Tripp Carpenter, who learned woodworking as a child, and now is a professional woodworker in his own right.

The June 15th Modern + Contemporary Design Auction will include master craftsman from across genres and cultures.

California has a lengthy history of woodworking and studio furniture design. One of the most renowned master woodworkers was Arthur Espenet Carpenter. Born in 1920, Arthur Espenet Carpenter was a self-taught furniture maker. He began with making wood turned bowls at his studio in San Francisco in the late 1940s to early 1950s. However, by the mid-1950s, he had expanded to build custom furniture. Carpenter found that production was so busy that he felt disconnected from the furniture building process.

In 1957, he decided that it was time to relocate to Bolinas, California, where he custom built his own house for his family. At his Bolinas studio, Espenet would create unique one-of-a-kind pieces for his clients, but would also create his most well-known iconic pieces — such as the Wishbone armchair. Clars is excited to offer a suite of eight Wishbone chairs, including two armchairs, in our June 15th Design auction. The suite has an auction estimate of $20,000–$40,000. Also to be featured is a stunning dining table having five butterfly inlays, estimated at $10,000–$15,000.

Another highlight from American designers in the auction is a Philip and Kelvin Laverne ‘Marriage Whirl’ table, estimated at $15,000–$20,000.

Danish Modern will also have a prominent role in the auction. Highlights include a pair of Finn Juhl NV-45 chairs, estimated at $20,000–$40,000, and a single chair, estimated at $8,000–$12,000. The auction will also include an extensive Georg Jensen ‘Acorn’ pattern table service, estimated at $5,000–$7,000, and an Illum Wikkelso Leather V-11 Sofa, valued at $4,000–$6,000.

The Summer Design sale features master craftsman from across genres and cultures. Clars is pleased to present a monumental Tony Hunt Totem pole, measuring 8’11”, and estimated at $4,000–$6,000. A part of the Kwakwaka’wakw community in British Columbia, Hunt was born into a family of professional woodcarvers and started training at an early age.

Also on offer will be an Alain Chevret table, estimated at $4,000–$6,000.

There will be two custom roadsters from a single owner advanced collector in Sonoma Valley, CA. One is a 1930 Model A Tudor with a Chevrolet 350ci Vortex Turbo engine, estimated at $25,000–$30,000, and the other is a 1927 Model T with a Ford 302ci 40 over engine with comp cam, valued at $25,000–$30,000. Both have custom paint and interiors and many added performance features which make these hot rods very fast, street legal machines.

Clars is also proud to represent select items from the personal collection of EGOT winning actress, the legendary Rita Moreno. Rita’s remarkable career ranges from music to film and dance, though she is arguably best known for her Academy-Award winning performance as Anita in the 1962 motion picture, West Side Story. Later in her career, she would work in both television and the stage. Items in the auction range from stage worn dresses by designers including Bob Mackie, scripts and awards, as well as fine artworks.

The auction will include a host of other well-known names in design including Stan Bitters, Peter Voulkos, Gertrud and Otto Natzler, Frank Gehry, Mario Bellini, Liberty & Co, and Tiffany Studios, among others.

Clars had a strong 2022 Design auction season with bidders vying for the top lots, allowing Clars to achieve impressive auction records across the board.

Spring Highlights

Clars was pleased with the international response to American designers, like George Nakashima and Vladimir Kagan, at the March 25th Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction.

Leading the Design section of the auction was a wall hanging cabinet by master woodworker, George Nakashima, that topped off at $62,500 and sold to an international bidder.

A Vladimir Kagan Collection contour rocking chair, circa 1999, had numerous bidders competing for the lot, and found a new home with an online bidder for $16,900.

Another popular Designer among bidders was Hans Wegner, whose Papa Bear lounge chair realized $13,700.

Summer Highlights

The June 17th Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale at Clars totaled $1,070,250 across 239 lots.

Highlights for Design included a set of Mario Bellini Cab chairs that sold for $17,500, and a Phillip Lloyd Powell New Hope Chair that brought $15,000.

Fall Highlights

Clars had a nearly 100% sell through rate for the Fall Design sale on September 16th, with just above 100 lots selling for over $210,000 total.

Top picks included an Angelo Mangiarotti ‘Eros’ Dining Table, which sold for $18,750, and a set of Christian Liaigre Bazane Stools that sold for $9,375.

Winter Highlights

Design led Clars’ December 18th Auction with 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 was pleased with the results of a set of four of these pieces which commanded $24,250.

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.

Click here to Subscribe to our Modernism e-mail list.

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.