Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Clars Fine Estates Auction

Art and antiques spanning 400 years from four major estates and other important consignors will comprise what is anticipated to be Clars largest and most important sale in their over sixty year history. Several million dollars of exceptional property has been consigned for their May 15th and 16th, 2010 Fine Estates Auction which will feature important 17th and 18th century furnishings and art from both contemporary and old masters.

Clars is extremely honored to represent the Lane & Jenkins Trust of San Francisco, the Frank Hinman Estate of San Francisco, the Dr. Sydney Widrow Estate of Hawaii and Carmel (CA) and the Dr. Lawrence Loftus Estate of Carmel (CA). The contents of these four estates will offer collectors and buyers the opportunity to own the finest in the categories of antique furniture, decoratives, fine art and jewelry.

Anticipated to be the key lot in the furniture category will be a circa 1650 Charles II small Oyster style walnut inlaid chest from the Widrow Estate (Estimate: $10,000 to $15,000) followed by a circa 1730 George II walnut veneered chest on chest. (Estimate: $8,000 to $12,000)

Other important furniture offerings will include a J & JW Meeks “Hawkins” pattern armchair, studio furniture from George Nakashima and Wharton Esherick and an outstanding Regency inlaid breakfast table.

Among the exceptional decorative works will be a stunning chandelier, possibly Baccarat, (Estimate: $4,000 to $6,000) and a circa 1900 Persian Kermanshah which measures 14 feet by 9 feet (Estimate: $8,000 to $12,000). A monumental Dirk Van Erp Studios vase will be offered as well as a 1799 George III celestial floor standing globe estimated at $5,000 to $7,000.

Of historical importance, two pieces of particular note will be a signed Abraham Lincoln presidential appointment (Estimate $3,000 to $5,000) and a California gold quartz presentation walking stick presented to a Dr. M. Heinimann by a Chs. L. Wilhelm in San Francisco on Sept 29, 1862. This lot is estimated to bring $5,000 to $7,000.

The four estates to be represented at this sale bring to the market an exceptional offering of art, both contemporary and classic.

A look at the Contemporary art to be offered finds important works by Gordon Onslow Ford, Gerome Kamrowski and Enrico Donati. Coming from abstract expressionist Enrico Donati (New York, 1909-2008) will be his mixed media on canvas “Eclipse Annee 2000” estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. There will be several works from American Surrealist Gerome Kamrowski (1914-2004), among them a framed acrylic on canvas titled “Female Insect (Rose Scarab),” estimated at $50,000 to $70,000. Estimated to realize $80,000 to $120,000 will be “O Natura,” an unframed acrylic on canvas from Gordon Onslow Ford (Californian, 1912-2003). The contemporary category will also include original prints by Roberto Matta, Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso.

Coming from the Widrow Estate will be a framed silver gelatin photograph by Ansel Easton Adams (Californian, 1902-1984) entitled “Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite” estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. This particular photograph is also being featured in the traveling exhibition of his work: “Ansel Adams, Early Work” which will begin touring the country on May 1st. The sale will also feature photographs by Jock Sturges, Edward Steichen, Weegee, and other fine photographers.

The classic fine art category will include everything from Old Masters to the finest American and California painters. Among the numerous important works to be offered is a framed oil on canvas triptych by Karl Schmidt (Californian, 1890-1962), showing a stream running past a grove of trees with their leaves shifting to autumn colors (Estimate: $15,000 to $20,000). “Sunday Boating,” a framed oil on canvas by James Weeks (Californian, 1922-1998), a scene of a group sailing on the San Francisco Bay is executed in rich tones of blue (Estimate: $20,000 to $30,000). “Moonrise over the Mojave” by Maynard Dixon (Californian, 1875-1946) exemplifies his mastery of Southwestern landscapes, capturing the expanse and drama of an evening desert ($150,000 to $250,000).

In addition, the beautiful framed watercolor, “Field of Bluebonnets” by Percy Gray (Californian, 1869-1952) will be offered (Estimate: $20,000 to $30,000) as well as “Moonlight—Santa Fe, New Mexico” by Will Sparks (Californian, 1862-1937), showing several small adobe homes under a starry sky (Estimate: $10,000 to $15,000).

Another of the many highlights of the classic art category will be a framed porcelain plaque, The Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael by Adriaen ven der Werff (Dutch, 1659-1722), marked Royal Vienna, as well as “Arc de Triomphe” by Antoine Blanchard (French, 1910-1988) estimated at $7,000 to $9,000.

Asian antiques and art always perform well at Clars and this sale will feature a set of four ink and paper hanging scrolls of an abstract landscape attributed to Liu Kuo-sung/Lui Guosong (Chinese, b 1932). This work is estimated to bring $10,000 to $15,000.

The grand finale of all Clars sales is always the jewelry category. This sale will be over the top with the premier lot being a diamond ring mounted in platinum, center set with one round brilliant cut diamond weighing 9 carats (GIA stated M color and SI1 clarity) surrounded by 52 round diamonds weighing 1.10 carats. (Estimate $90,000 to $120,000)

Clars Auction Gallery’s May Fine Art and Antiques Auction will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 15th and 16th, 2010. Approximately 2,000 lots in total will be offered over the course of this two-day event. A full catalog with descriptions, estimates and photos will be available online at www.clars.com prior to the sale.

Preview for this auction is Friday, May 14th, 1pm to 6pm or by appointment. The Saturday session will begin promptly at 9:30am, and the Sunday session will begin at 10am. Bidding is available in person from the floor, online via LiveAuctioneers.com, by phone and through absentee bids.

Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. To register to bid or for additional information, call Clars Auction Gallery at (888) 339-7600, visit their website at www.clars.com, or email: [email protected].