Clars Upcoming Auction
March 16 at 10 am
March 17 & 18 at 9:30 am
5644 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA 94609
www.Clars.com
info@clars.com
888-339-7600 (toll free)
510-428-0100 (local)

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Highlighting Clars Auction Gallery’s March 17-18 auction, the Asian art department will present two modern Chinese watercolor landscape paintings. The first painting is by Ou Haonian (b 1935) depicting Taipei, Taiwan’s Mount Shamao, and the second painting is attributed to Twentieth Century Chinese watercolor master Li Keran (1907-1989) of a village scene. Both paintings hail from the estate of Albert and Aiko Hyderman. Albert Hyderman (1899-1992) was a successful businessman and art collector. Hyderman was the owner of P. Wiest and Son department store in York, Penn. Hyderman was also a close friend and patron of Thomas Hart Benton, the regionalist painter from Missouri. Upon his retirement, Albert and his family spent many winters residing in Italy and ultimately in Hong Kong where he collected numerous Chinese watercolor paintings.

Clars is also offering an intriguing piece from the circle of Domenikos Theotokópoulos, better known as El Greco, one of the leading figures of Spanish Renaissance painting. El Greco is known for his mannerist modeling of figures, sfumato color palette and expressionistic compositions, which were underappreciated in his own time but have since found recognition for their innovation in the modern era. The piece in this auction is an oil on canvas painting depicting Christ carrying the cross surrounded by Roman soldiers ($20/40,000). Spanish art historian Manuel B. Cossio, an expert on the artist who published the defining treatise on his life and work in 1908, affirmed in a letter dating to 1930 that this depiction of Christ is an original by El Greco. Furthermore, figures in this painting are replicated in other works known to be painted by El Greco, including the figure on horseback as seen in “Saint Martin and the Beggar,” and the soldier on the far right, who is seen again in “The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice.”

Also featured in the auction is a mixed media piece by Bay Area figure Roy de Forest. De Forest moved from Washington state to the Bay Area during the 1950s, where he earned two art degrees and began teaching. While working at U.C. Davis, De Forest and his peers exhibited under the heading of Funk Art, and later began the Nut Art movement, which embraced humor and eccentricity. The piece in this month’s auction displays De Forest’s signature use of bright color and faux-naif style, with saturated objects decorating the paper in a seemingly random and playful configuration ($6/9,000).

A third highlight in the auction is a bronze sculpture by American artist Douglas Van Howd, known for his portrayals of the American West. This sculpture, titled “Friends of Freedom,” depicts a golden eagle leaping from the arm of an Apache man, who stands on a base of petrified wood. First received by Ronald Reagan after being created for the Roosevelt Room of the White House in 1982, this piece comes from an edition of 50. Van Howd’s Western-themed artworks have earned him a following both within and outside of the United States, with “Friends of Freedom” being a favorite among collectors ($10/15,000).

A work on paper by American Pop art icon Andy Warhol is also being offered. The mixed media piece shows an ice cream cone with scoops of red, pink and white ice cream atop a cone that is decorated with playful linework reminiscent of Art Nouveau design ($25/35,000). This work is one in a series of ice cream-themed designs drawn by Warhol during the 1950s and was likely inspired by the collaborative coloring parties that the artist would host at Serendipity 3, the New York dessert café at which he was a lifelong patron.

Clars will offer the largest single-owner precious metals collection in the gallery’s history. This collection includes uncirculated gold coins, silver bars, silver coins and presentation coins, some in unopened containers. In all, close to 40 lots expected to bring more than $750,000. This collection will be a highlight of the silver and virtu being offered on March 18.

The jewelry and timepiece department will offer a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and gold jewelry in the March 17 sale. This sale features a variety of wardrobe staples to build up the foundation of one’s jewelry collection at accessible price points. A selection of diamond jewelry in time for bridal season includes a diamond and 14K gold bracelet ($2/4,000); a diamond and 14K white gold riviere necklace ($4/6,000), as well as a colorful gemstone selection, including a pair of ruby, diamond and 18K white gold earrings ($1,5/2,500); and an untreated black opal, diamond and sapphire ring ($3/5,000). Other wearable timepieces are featured by an 18K gold wristwatch, Chronograph, Hamilton ($800-$1,200); and a titanium wristwatch, Porsche design ($800-$1,200).

The March 17 and 18 sessions are preceded by the spring design auction on March 16. There will be numerous highlights across genres and countries. On offer will be a selection of pottery and ceramics, including a Stan Bitters medallion ($12/15,000). Bitters is renowned for his influence on the California Arts and Crafts scene since the 1960s. Also featuring prominently in the auction is a large Gertud and Otto Natzler bowl, having a blue-grey matte glaze, and measuring 12¾ inches ($5/7,000). Other ceramicists include Toshiko Takaezu, Ka-Kwong Hui, Annabeth Rosen, Richard Hirsch, Brother Thomas Bezanson, etc.

There will be numerous furniture highlights in the auction, including a Michel Buffet floor lamp ($7/10,000). Also to be offered are several lots by designer Hans J. Wegner, such as a set of eight Heart chairs ($4,2/5,200), a rare pair of Hans Wegner JH-101 lounge chairs and JH-103 sofa, among others. In addition, there will be a pair of Finn Juhl NV-45’s offered ($20/30,000).

For American furniture, there will be a Philip and Kelvin Laverne Fantasia coffee table ($5/7,000), a Charles and Ray Eames 670 and 671 lounge chair and ottoman and an Ettore Sottsass Westside lounge chair.

As for early Twentieth Century items, a Tiffany Studios table lamp with Vine border (Acorn) shade ($7/9,000) will cross the block along with several sterling silver lots.

Clars Auction Gallery is at 5644 Telegraph Avenue. For information, 510-428-0100 or www.clars.com.

Preview: March 15th, 1-5 PM PST
In Person + Online Bidding
1. Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987), Triple Scoop, circa 1950s, mixed media on paper, estate/foundation stamped verso, 12″ x 9″. Provenance: Estate of Joanna Barnes and Jack
Warner (Santa Barbara, California). Ms. Barnes was a Hollywood film actress featured in movies such as Auntie Mame (1958) and The Parent Trap (1961)
2. Andy Warhol (American,
1928-1987), Peaches from Space Fruit: Still Life Series, 1979, screenprint, 30″ x 40″.
3. An eighteen karat gold wristwatch, Maurice Lacroix.
4. A diamond and fourteen karat gold bracelet.
5. Large single owner collection of gold and silver coins and bars.
6. A gemstone and eighteen karat gold brooch.
7. An emerald, diamond and tsavorite garnet ring.
8. Douglas Van Howd (American, b. 1935), Friends of Freedom, 1982, bronze sculpture on petrified wood base, 73″ x 40″ x 24″.
9. Roy Dean De Forest (American, 1930-2007), Untitled (Drawing), 1971, mixed media on paper, 21.25″ x 29.5″.
10. Chinese copper-red glazed stem bowl, Qianlong mark and possible of the period.
11. (lot of 3) Chinese coral carvings.