Incredible prices are being achieved at auction—if you’ve ever considered selling, now is the time. Clars Auctions is currently seeking quality consignments for its upcoming monthly auctions.

To learn more about consigning in our Fine Art department, email: Senior Specialist, Erin Cabral.

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To learn more about consigning in our Fine Jewelry & Watches department, email: Specialist, Campbell Unruh.

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To learn more about consigning in our Furniture & Decorative Arts department, email: Senior Specialist, Suzy Pai.

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To learn more about consigning in our Asian Art department, email: Director, Harry Huang.

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Clars will offer a strong lineup of Modern Design in our July 18th auction. Design highlights include pieces by Philip and Kelvin Laverne, Robert Mallet-Stevens, James Mont, Folke Ohlsson and Hans Wegner, among others.

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne

The father-son team of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne developed an entirely new category of design in mid-century America — furniture that functioned simultaneously as sculpture, historical commentary, and high art. Their signature technique involved acid-etched bronze and pewter inlaid over wood and sealed under glass, producing intricate surface patterns with a painterly quality.

The “Chan” coffee table — inspired by ancient Chinese art — exemplifies their fusion of classical imagery with modernist form. No two tables are identical, each bearing hand-finished surfaces that evoke patinated metalwork and antiquities. Their pieces are now housed in major museum collections and remain highly sought after for their historical richness and collectible rarity.

Robert Mallet-Stevens

A leading figure in French modernism, Robert Mallet-Stevens (1886–1945) is best known for his radical architectural designs — such as the streamlined Villa Cavrois — which integrated form, light, and materials into holistic environments. His lighting designs reflect the same ethos: a minimalist approach that privileges geometry and proportion over ornamentation.

These torchieres are characteristic of Mallet-Stevens’ architectural vocabulary — simple, cylindrical forms that cast light upward and create dramatic spatial ambiance. As a designer who believed that every detail of an environment should serve the whole, his furnishings were often custom-made, and today are extremely rare.

James Mont

Known as the “bad boy of mid-century design,” James Mont (1904–1978) brought a lavish, often provocative sensibility to American interiors. His work blended Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, and Asian influences — what he called “Oriental Modernism.” His clients ranged from the elite of Hollywood to underworld figures, lending his reputation an aura of danger and mystique.

These oxbow armchairs with faux snakeskin upholstery demonstrate Mont’s theatrical flair. With curving silhouettes and exotic materials, the chairs are both sensual and commanding — hallmarks of Mont’s approach to statement design.

Folke Ohlsson

Swedish-born Folke Ohlsson (1919–2002) was a key figure in the transatlantic spread of Scandinavian modernism. After relocating to California in the 1950s, he established DUX Inc. and helped adapt clean-lined, functional Nordic design to the preferences of American consumers.

This mid-century Dux sofa exemplifies Ohlsson’s strengths: ergonomic form, warm wood accents, and restrained elegance. Designed for comfort as much as beauty, it bridges two design cultures and continues to resonate with collectors and designers seeking timeless simplicity.

Hans Wegner

Few designers have achieved the reverence granted to Hans J. Wegner (1914–2007), often called “the master of the chair.” A leading figure in the Danish modern movement, Wegner was trained as a cabinetmaker and believed deeply in the integrity of materials. His work combines utility, elegance, and a near-spiritual respect for craftsmanship.

This GEG daybed, made for Getama, reflects his design philosophy: minimal yet warm, meticulously constructed, and deeply functional. Designed for modern living, the piece embodies Wegner’s ideal that “a chair is to have no backside. It should be beautiful from all sides and angles.”

This May at Clars we are excited to feature a selection of modern and contemporary artwork that will undoubtably appeal to each and every collector. For fans of the Bay Area Figurative Movement, we are highlighting two works on paper by celebrated multimedia artist Joan Brown (American, 1938–1990).

Brown was born in San Francisco and continued to work in the area for her entire life, creating paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that celebrated the Bay Area as much as her own inner life. During her prolific career, Brown evolved stylistically from abstract expressionism to folk art inspired figurative painting and became involved in the highly influential Bay Area Figurative Movement. Brown was married for a period to a fellow member of the movement, Manuel Neri, who introduced her to the model Mary Julia Klimenko, Brown’s muse for the series that includes the two pieces at Clars this month. These two acrylic and charcoal compositions are titled Mary Julia #32, estimated at $8,000–$12,000, and Mary Julia #33, estimated at $8,000–$12,000, and each depicts the subject in two strikingly different settings.

Mary Julia #32 is shown alone in an austere space, likely a chapel, with two narrow stained-glass windows behind her. Her dark hair is topped with a veil that recalls medieval tastes, and her white gown indicates that it is the day of her wedding. She stares wide-eyed at the viewer, holding a champagne glass. Mary Julia #33 is dressed in a green military uniform with her arms behind her back. Next to her is a headless white sculpture, perhaps depicting herself, and a picture of two blackened figures sitting on an easel. Each work is done in Brown’s instantly recognizable faux-naif style, with her signature splashes of color. The two pair themselves with the use of lavender on the wall and windows.

An outstanding piece in the May auction is an oil on canvas painting by Iraqi artist Dia Al-Azzawi (b. 1939). Al-Azzawi studied art in Baghdad, taking inspiration from ancient Middle Eastern mythology as well as Islam and Arabic culture, and worked in the city throughout the mid-20th century.

Al-Azzawi eventually moved out of Iraq in the 1970s and began working abroad, using painting as an outlet for feelings of despair he felt seeing the destruction of his homeland during the wars that plagued the country during the later 20th century. Now living between London and Dubai, Al-Azzawi maintains his status as one of the foremost globally successful Arab artists, and an influential icon in his home country.

The painting in our May Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction is titled Sleeping Bird, estimated at $15,000–$20,000. In its abstraction, the hovering head of a beaked bird appears above an assortment of interpretive shapes below, faithful to distinctive Cubist style and vibrant color palette.

On May 15th in our Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction, we are thrilled to showcase an exceptional array of artwork from masters like Raimonds Staprans, Wayne Thiebaud, Joan Brown, Helen Frankenthaler, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, and much more. The auction will begin at 10 AM PDT. Preview May 14th, 1–5 PM PDT.

This May 15th, Clars is excited to offer an outstanding oil on canvas painting by Latvian American artist Raimonds Staprans (b. 1926) in our Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction.

Upon moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s, Staprans was quickly adopted by the art community in his chosen home and remains one of the foremost representatives of post-war California painting nationwide. Staprans is known for his large swaths of bright color, often playing with natural light and the perception of shape and texture, and his understated treatment of subject.

Current trends in the market show that the highly saturated paintings that Staprans perfected in the late 1980s and 1990s are increasingly popular with collectors. Clars has been successful with several of these pieces in the last five years, including a 1987 oil on canvas titled, Still Life with Red Piano Stool, which sold well over its estimate at $147,600 in 2020, and Blue Boats, a 1990 painting that sold for $187,500 in 2022. Still life depictions of food are among the most recognizable of Staprans’ motifs. Staprans’ highest record price was realized in 2023 for a 1995 still life depicting oranges, done in a vibrantly warm palette that is strikingly similar to the piece up for auction at Clars this May.

The scene takes place in a space unmarked by identifying objects, furnished with a stool-like drop-leaf table. The table’s edges and sides are traced with prismatic colors in a manner that leaves the viewer questioning if the color is painted on the posts and boards, or if the unseen sun is playing tricks on our eyes. The top of the table appears to be doused with direct sunlight, bright white and glowing against the orange background. To the viewer’s right, the sides of the table’s legs are cast in a sunset glow the same tangerine shade as the background. Sitting atop the table is a peeled apple, its sides angled and smoothed with a paring knife. The fruit casts a half-moon shadow that points toward the open leaf of the table and is echoed on each stretcher below.

This work, titled The Mid Summer Drop-Leaf Table (estimated at $60,000–$90,000), showcases Staprans’ skill in using color to portray light, perspective, and a specific atmosphere. The tones chosen in this composition evoke the warmth of the summer months, and the slant of the dazzling sunshine on the table and fruit leave us wondering if this is the end of a late-evening garden party, where a table full of fresh fruit has dwindled to a lone apple and the leaves are dropped one by one. This outstanding example of Staprans’ later work is a celebration of color and light, an ode to atmosphere, and will be a significant addition to any collection.

The Furniture & Decorative Arts portion of the April 18th auction will feature an impressive selection pieces. Featured is a sculptural Alvar Aalto bentwood tea trolley.

Crafted by Finnish modernist master Alvar Aalto, this elegant tea trolley exemplifies his signature minimalist form. Aalto’s visionary approach to design brought warmth and humanity to modernism — balancing clean lines with natural materials.

This piece is not only functional — it’s a sculptural icon of 20th-century design.

This April 18th we will offer pair of Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Swan chairs — sculptural, iconic, and effortlessly modern.

Designed in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, the Swan chair is one of Arne Jacobsen’s most celebrated works. A master of Danish modernism, Jacobsen blended form and function with striking elegance. His designs, including the Egg and Swan chairs, continue to shape interiors worldwide.

This pair, produced by Fritz Hansen, represents the enduring legacy of Scandinavian design — minimalist, organic, and timeless. Offered at an estimate of $1,200–$1,500, these iconic chairs will be sure to enhance any space.

Consignments are now invited for our upcoming Modern + Contemporary Fine Art Auction on Thursday, May 15th.

Schedule an appointment today with one of our Fine Art Specialists. The deadline to consign is Friday, April 25th. To schedule your appointment, call (510) 428-0100 x 130 OR email [email protected].

This March 21st at Clars Auctions, we will be featuring a curated assortment of artwork from a wide range of periods and locales.

Starting in our own state of California, we have an oil on canvas by plein air painter Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel (American, 1876–1954). Wachtel was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and studied in Chicago before moving to California, where she studied under Scottish American master landscapist William Keith.

Keith’s influence coupled with her new surroundings inspired Wachtel to move away from portraiture and embrace landscape painting, focusing her attention on the mountains, coasts, and foliage of southern California. The painting in this month’s sale is titled Autumn, Trabuco Mountains, California, (estimate: $8,000–$12,000) and depicts the leaves changing color amidst the peak on the border of Orange and Riverside Counties.

Next in our selection of highlights this month is an oil on panel painting by contemporary Canadian artist Ambera Wellmann (Canadian, b. 1982). Wellmann is known for her surreal, collage-like painting techniques that evoke the work of earlier experimental painters like Francis Bacon and Max Ernst, often depicting hybrid bodies and intensely pigmented bacchanal-like scenes. These works regularly bring over $100,000 at auction, and Wellmann is currently represented by major contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth. In Wellmann’s early work, her mastery of blending color is apparent, as is her ability to access emotion in unexpected imagery. The piece featured at Clars this month is titled Cloud #7 (estimate: $8,000–$12,000) and dates to 2009. Wellmann presents a mass of gray and white clouds in varied tones moving against a cerulean sky while a hint of peachy, warm sun glows from behind the vapor.

A third feature in our March auction is a large-scale sculpture by German artist Wolfgang Stiller (German, b. 1961) titled Matchsticks (estimate: $5,000–$7,000). Stiller, whose first solo gallery show was in 1986, focuses his practice on objects and installations, often transforming familiar and ordinary items into uncanny and unsettling facsimiles. Among his ouvre are cast wax geodes, a recreation of a scientific laboratory inside a disused train car, and bronze baby heads fashioned into ginseng roots. The human head is a common point of inspiration for Stiller, and this is apparent in Matchsticks, in which three wood matchsticks are topped with hairless, male heads, burnt black and resembling medieval death masks in a kind of postmodern memento mori.

Also among the featured highlights in our March auction are works by Thomas Hill, Maurice Braun, John Frederick Kensett, Tavakol Esmaili and much more.