OAKLAND, CALIF. — Clars Auction Gallery hosted its fine art, decorative, jewelry and Asian art sale February 20–21 that saw two very modestly-estimated examples of Asian art set off firecrackers in the sale’s final session.

One of the first Asian arts lots across the block was a Chinese Longquan type ice-crackled brush washer estimated at $800- 1,200 (shown above). Bidding opened at $900 and an online bidding war drove the price to $89,250 and just six lots later, it happened again. A Chinese celadon wall vase with an apocryphal Qianlong mark was expected to achieve $1/1,500 but thanks to a flurry of floor, phone and Internet bidding, the vase took $77,350.

A complete review on the sale will follow.