: Clars Auction Gallery's September 11 auction was the largest of
its 50-year history, bringing a record $1.6 million to the
gallery.
Anchoring the sale was an array of fine art. The gallery started
off the day by selling a Monterey coastal scene by Carl Sammons
(1883-1968) for $11,700, setting a new auction record for the
California artist.
Prices only climbed higher as the auction continued through the
afternoon, with much of the interest focused on a group of
American art. "Clouds on a Breezy Spring Day" by Edward Henry
Potthast (1857-1927), an American artist most widely known for
his Impressionistic beach scenes, closed at $29,250. Telephone
bidders from across the country vied for two portraits attributed
to folk painter Ammi Phillips (1788-1865), a self-taught
portraitist. The winning bid for "Portrait of a Young Woman"
reached $35,100, and "Portrait of Olivia Kimberly Adams" realized
$26,910.
Telephone bidders across the country competed for "Portrait of
a Young Woman" attributed to Ammi Phillips, raising the final
bid to $35,100.
Two landscapes of Yosemite Valley of California painter
Thomas Hill (1829-1928) sold to a phone bidder for $64,350 each.
Perhaps most surprising, however, were the skyrocketing bids for
two Italian white marble figural sculptures by Ambrogio Borghi
(1849-1887), both originally from the historic Hyatt Rickey's hotel
of Palo Alto. The hammer fell at $70,200 and $58,500, each
sculpture surpassing its estimate tenfold. Two white marble
bas-relief plaques by Greek sculptor Giorgios Vroutos (1843-1908)
from the Rickeys' collection also went for double their estimates,
closing at $9,945 and $7,605.
Additional highlights of the auction included a Tiffany sterling
water pitcher previously owned by President Grover Cleveland that
sold for $12,870; a Chinese gilt and cloisonné enamel censer from
the Joy Swann Collection that brought in $14,040; three antique
Persian Serapi rugs, each realizing close to $20,000; and antique
and modern furniture. The day's auction also included a sale of
fine jewelry that featured a pair of 6.24-carat diamond ear studs
that fetched $64,350.
Clars holds fine estate auctions every month at its gallery at
5644 Telegraph Avenue. All prices include 17 percent buyer's
premium. For information, 510-428-0100 or www.clars.com.
