OAKLAND, CALIF. — It’s not much of a surprise that an Asian artwork has dominated a Clars auction again yet the piece itself surprised some when it crossed the block during the company’s April 25–26 fine art, decoratives, jewelry and Asian antiques auction.
Estimated at a mere $700-1,000 due to condition issues, a Chinese stone inlaid cabinet from the Qing dynasty opened online at $13,000 and several phone bidders soon jumped in the game, fueling the competition. The cabinet was the top lot of the $1. million-auction when it finished at $233,000.
The upper section featured openwork panels and doors carved with gui-dragons. The lower doors featured a garden scene of scholars in pursuit composed of mother-of-pearl inlay and stones, including lapis lazuli, carnelian and soapstones.
Bidders also battled it out to own a piece of rock ‘n roll history. A collection of early Bill Graham and Family Dog lithographic posters were offered; all but a few were rare vintage first printings and had been kept in near mint condition. The star lot was the well known Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley “Skeleton and Roses” poster that was created for the Grateful Dead’s 1966 concert at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. It set a new world auction record price of $19,000 and drove the collection to nearly $60,000.
A complete report on the sale will appear in an upcoming edition.
