Clars Upcoming Auction
December 16, 18-19
www.clars.com

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Clars Auction Gallery is hosting a jewelry sale on December 16, with sales to follow on December 18 and 19.
The jewelry auction, beginning at 10 am PST, includes a selection of diamond, colored gemstone and signed jewelry spanning from the Georgian period to contemporary. Among this selection are exceptional diamonds.

Fancy colored diamonds are quite rare, with only one in every 10,000 diamonds showing a fancy color. The color is often a result of the presence of trace elements, not essential to the chemical composition of the diamond. Yellow diamonds, commonly marketed as “canary diamonds” most commonly contain the trace element, nitrogen.
Coming up for auction is a 4.18-carat VS2 fancy light yellow diamond ring. This fancy light yellow diamond is enhanced by its size, weighing an uncommon weight of 4.18 carats.

The rarest color of all, is pink. Pink colored diamonds range from red to purple. Unlike most colored diamonds, where colors are a result of trace elements, such as nitrogen’s presence in yellow diamonds, the majority of pink hues in pink colored diamonds are a result of a variation in its crystal structure.
The majority of the world’s pink diamonds are sourced from the famous Argyle mine, located in Australia. This mine, which has been a consistent producer of pink diamonds since its opening in 1983, officially closed in 2020.

Coming up for sale is a 1.05-carat fancy intense pink-purple diamond ring. This ring is particularly rare, as only about 28 percent of pink diamonds range within purplish-pink to pinkish-purple hue range, and 17 percent weigh more than 1.00 carats.

Clars will offer a still life painting by Gertrude Abercrombie in its December 18-19 auction. The work depicts a shell and leaf and is an impressive example of the artist’s precise and controlled style typical of her mature works. Known as the “Queen of Bohemian Artists,” Abercrombie was a prominent surrealist artist who lived from 1909 to 1977 and was based in Chicago. She was an integral member of Chicago’s artist community in the 1940s-50s and was heavily involved in the jazz scene. The painting is being offered with an estimate of $10/15,000.
Estimated at $10/20,000, Clars will offer a father and son outdoor scene by John Falter (American, 1910-1982), “Going Canoeing,” on Sunday, December 19. Often referred to as the “painter of Americana,” Falter was a nationally recognized magazine illustrator known primarily for his Saturday Evening Post covers.

One of Charles Schulz’s (American, 1922-2000) timeless “Peanuts” comics will make an appearance in the fine art portion of the sale. The 1972 ink on paper Daily Comic Strip shows characters Schroeder and Lucy discussing Beethoven’s birthday, Schroeder’s favorite musician and muse ($10/15,000).

The Asian art department has several exciting items on offer, including a Chinese cloisonne enamel and hardwood ice chest $3/5,000). Ice chests were an integral part of the palace furnishing. They had two practical uses; in the hot summer months food, beverages, fruit and snacks were placed on top of the ice inside the chest for cooling. They were also used for releasing cool air into the surrounding rooms and hallways. The two apertures on the cover provided ventilation of the cold air to escape, while the thick walls of the chest helped insulate the interior temperature.

Also to be offered is a Chinese sancai-glazed figure of a Ferghana horse ($5/7,000). Ferghana horses were a breed that imported into China during the Han dynasty from the Ferghana Valley in Central Asia. As a status and wealth symbol in the Tang dynasty, ownership of a valuable Ferghana horse in life as in death reflected the high rank and importance of its owners.

The gallery will present property from the estate of Patricia Moffat Pope, San Francisco, who was born May 12,1927, to parents William H. Moffat and May Martin Moffat in Reno, Nev. She grew up, a cattleman’s daughter, loving the ranches and riding horses. She married George A. Pope Jr in 1959 and together they built a thoroughbred horse racing empire that included 27 stakes winners in the United States and in Europe. Among the many races that they won include the 1962 Kentucky Derby. One of the highlights from this collection will be a Victorian sterling monteith bowl, by John Alwinckle & Thomas Slater, London, circa 1886 ($3/5,000).

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

888 339 7600 (toll free)
510 428 0100 (local)
info@clars.com
A Pair of Victorian Ruby and Diamond Earrings.
A David Webb Eighteen Karat Gold Necklace.
Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909–1977), Shell and Leaf, 1958, oil on masonite, 11.75” x 11.75”.
John Falter (American, 1910–1982), Untitled (Going Canoeing), oil on canvas, 18” x 38”.
A 1.05 Carats Fancy Intense Pink-Purple Diamond Ring.
Chinese jade tripod censer and associated jade finial.
Selection of Native American baskets including Pima and Apache examples.
Chinese sancai-glazed figure of a Ferghana horse.
A Cartier 2.12 Carats Diamond and Platinum Ring.
Victorian sterling monthieth bowl, John Alwinckle & Thomas Slater, London, c. 1883.
Charles Schulz (American, 1922–2000), Happy Beethoven’s Birthday, 1972, ink on paper,
Peanuts daily comic strip 12-16-72 (United Feature Syndicate, 1972), ink on paper, 5.5” x 27”.