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 painterThomas Hill (1829-1928) sold to a phone bidder for $64,350 each.Perhaps most surprising, however, were the skyrocketing bids fortwo Italian white marble figural sculptures by Ambrogio Borghi(1849-1887), both originally from the historic Hyatt Rickey’s hotelof Palo Alto. The hammer fell at $70,200 and $58,500, eachsculpture surpassing its estimate tenfold. Two white marblebas-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.