: Topping $620,000 for more than 1,700 lots offered, Clars Auction
Gallery's two-day spring estate auction on April 1 and 2 was the
highest grossing April auction in the firm's 55-plus-year
history. There were more than 1,000 registered bidders, both live
and online, ready to vie for the selection of fine art,
decorative arts and furniture.
Excitement and surprises came early in the sale when, during the
intermediate Saturday session, lot 242 came to the block. It was
the final selling price on a Twentieth Century Chinese scroll
that stunned both the crowd and Clars president Redge Martin.
The scroll, an ink and color on paper, was an abstract depiction
of a village screened by trees along a river. It was signed "Tu,"
dated 1959 and came to the block with an estimate of just $25/50.
Once it hit the floor, a bidding war ensued, hinting that perhaps
this was something a bit more important than expected. That was
confirmed when the final hammer dropped at $4,387.
Sunday also started off with a bang when a monumental hand
painted vase signed and dated 1905 by Franz Bischoff came to the
floor. Reportedly in the Paris Exposition of 1910, this lot had a
presale estimate of $6/12,000. The hammer dropped on this lot at
$17,500.
Shortly after this surprise, a signed oil on canvas titled "View
toward Mount Diablo" by Carl Sammons (California, 1883-1963) was
offered with an estimate of $2/4,000. The consignors had picked
this piece up in a local thrift shop for just $1.99. The final
sale price of $5,265 represented a solid return on a $2
investment.
This signed oil on canvas titled "View toward Mount Diablo" by
Carl Sammons was purchased by the consignor at a local thrift
store for just $1.99 and sold at auction for $5,265
Salvador Dali (Spanish 1904-1989) made an impressive
appearance on the block with a portfolio of 15 signed unframed
lithographs titled "Les Floralies." Estimated at $3/5,000, this set
sold for $14,040. A signed Walasse Ting (Chinese/American, b 1929)
also performed solidly. His signed acrylic on paper titled "Life is
Just a Bowl of Cherries" brought $11,700. A good buy was had on a
signed framed oil on canvas by Eugene Neuhaus (California,
1879-1963) when it sold for $4,972.
Prices reported include buyer's premium of 17 percent up to
$70,000, and 10 percent thereafter for phone, absentee and floor
bids; and 20 percent up to $70,000 and 13 percent thereafter for
Internet bids.
For information, www.clars.com , 888-339-7600 or 510-428-0100.
