OAKLAND, California – Clars Auction Gallery is proud to offer a collection of important European and Asian art in its upcoming March 1 & 2, 2008 auction.

The highlight of the European art sale is likely to be a portrait of Queen Margaret (lot 6355), done in oil by a follower of Bartolome Gonzalez (Spanish, 1564-1627), one of Margaret’s court painters. The painting shows the queen wearing a large pear-shaped white pearl on a necklace. This is, in fact, the celebrated “La Peregrina,” a pearl weighing 203.8 grams that was discovered off the coast of Panama in the 16th century and at one time belonged to Queen Margaret. Elizabeth Taylor now owns La Peregrina; she discussed the piece extensively in her book My Love Affair with Jewelry.

The portrait of Queen Margaret is one of a collection of Old Master paintings Clars will offer this weekend. Other pieces include an inscribed portrait of Duke Phillip the Good of Burgundy (lot 6177) and a Spanish Colonial painting of the Madonna and Child (lot 6289), thought to have been done by a follower of Miguel Cabrera (Mexican, 1695-1768).

A contemporary Mexican artwork is another highlight of Clars’s March auction. “El Predicator,” a mixograph by Rufino Tamayo (Mexican, 1899-1991) is lot 6267. Joining the Tamayo are works by other modern masters. “Lock at Bougival, France,” (lot 6220) a gelatin silver print by famed photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (French, 1908-2004) features an inscription by the artist on its reverse. A blueprint perspective drawing by Frank Lloyd Wright (American, 1867-1949) also features a personal touch from the artist. The print (lot 6340) bears a red, Prismacolor square in its lower right corner, indicating that it was the copy used by Wright himself; additionally, the piece features Wright’s own corrections, done in hand-applied lead white.

Clars’s Asian offerings for March also include an impressive collection of Hasui woodblock prints (lots 6478-6483). In addition to these fine artworks, Clars will also be auctioning several intriguing art objects, including a Chinese horn incense ball pendant from the Qing dynasty (lot 6519); a Chinese small jade boulder featuring a writhing dragon pursing a sacred jewel (lot 6529); and a selection of Japanese ivory netsuke and okimono, including a large toad (lots 6539-6537).

Other items of interest include an 1888 CF Martin parlor guitar in its original case (lot 6382), and a model M-2 Baldwin baby grand piano (lot 6196), and a variety of antique and contemporary Southeast Asian furnishings and decorative items. Tribal art and artifact collectors will appreciate Clars’s impressive collections of Hopi kachina dolls (lots 6615-6624), Native American turquoise jewelry (6626-6648), and Pre-Colombian, Peruvian textiles (lots 6394-6397).

As usual, these items will be part of Clars’s diverse, two-day auction. The sale will also feature American and Californian art, sterling silver, antique and contemporary furniture and fine estate jewelry.

Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, CA. Bidding for this sale is available in person, by phone, absentee and via the Internet through eBay LiveAuctions/LiveAuctioneers. A full catalog of the sale is available on their website at www.clars.com. (510) 428-0100.

Posted: 02|28|08 at 9:48 am. Filed under: Press Release.