OAKLAND, CA.- Clars November 16-17, 2019 presented important designs in Modern furniture, an extensive collection of solid gold bars and silver and gold coins, impressive fine art and jewelry and the national and international markets responded vigorously to the investment level property that was offered. In addition, second installment of the Robin Leach featured a very select offering from his personal paperweight collection that soared to $14,000. The property to be offered at this sale comes from prominent California estates as well as museums, private institutions and special collections.
THE GOLD NUMISMATIC COLLECTION
The undoubted showpiece in this rare collection was a UBS one kilo gold bar, 9999 24k pure gold that sold for an impressive $43,000. The extensive numismatic collection was comprised of over 500 solid gold coins from countries around the world as well as two albums of Morgan silver dollars. The collection had a 100% sell-through with most lots surpassing high estimate and selling for a total of $257,000.
THE MODERN FURNITURE
Exceptional design in Modern furniture was featured prominently at this sale with the highlight of the entire auction being a rare Finn Juhl for Neils Vodder Chieftain chair. Executed in black leather, this chair was signed with the branded manufacturer’s mark “Neils Vodder Cabinetmaker Copenhagen, Denmark.” This chair was offered for $30,000-50,000 but quickly soared past its estimate selling for $79,950.
Among the other highlights in the Modern offerings was a set of 2 Kofod-Larsen Danish/Swedish Modern Seal lounge chairs that earned $6,150 followed by a Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller ESU desk and cabinet that sold for $5,227.
THE DECORATIVE ARTS & ANTIQUES
Two very impressive surprises were had in this category. A German Black Forest Tall Case Clock was expected to sell for $6,000 – 9,000. Collectors vied heatedly for this highly carved case with two bears surmounting the brass-silvered dial with Arabic markers driving the final sale price to $33,825.
During the Saturday session, a Continental white porcelain figure of Hercules titled Sardanapalo Vaticanofrom the WK Vanderslice Estate of San Francisco was expected to sell for $200. The bidding opened at $50 at within minutes, bidders drove the price higher and higher to an astonishing $18,450.
Among the other outperformers was a large period Victorian hall tree, circa 1880, that was expected to sell for $2,500 flew off for $6,150.
THE FINE ART
Works by European artists led this category with the top seller being the oil on canvas by Mihaly Munkacsy (Hungarian, 1844-1900) titled The Good Samaritan which sold very well for $17,220. From France, Remy Blanchard’s (1958-1993) oil on canvas titled VI, 1987, also performed well fetching $14,760.
Turning to America, a most impressive work by David Hitchcock (American, 1861-1943) titled Hanalei Bay, Kauai, 1931, was offered to the public for the first time in over 60 years and the art world responded driving the price on this work to $12,300.
Rounding out the Fine Art highlights was the oil on canvas titled Past Memories by G (Gerald Harvey Jones) Jones (American, 1933-2017) that went off for $12,300 as did the 1964 etching by Wayne Thiebaud (American, b. 1920) titled Gum Machine.
THE ROBIN LEACH COLLECTION
The second installment of the Robin Leach Collection featured highly select group lots from his personal paperweight collection, all of which surpassed their estimates, selling for a total of $14,000. The top lot in this group was a lot of 12 paperweights, many decorated with cased tropical fish by various makers including Baccarat. This lot was offered for $1,500 – 2,000 but more than doubled high estimate selling for $5,037.
THE JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES
The Jewelry Department had a strong sale with several pieces achieving final sale prices over their preliminary sale estimates. The highlight of the evening was a beautiful 32 carat cushion-cut yellow sapphire mounted in a delicate leaf motif diamond and 18k yellow gold mounting. There was active bidding in the room, on-line and on the phone for this ring which ultimately hammered down at $8,000, far exceeding its $4000-6000 preliminary sale estimate.
Two whimsical necklaces also performed well. A diamond, black onyx, platinum and 18k yellow gold “Polka Dot” necklace by Michael Bondanza which showcased his signature modern style sold for $5,000. There was also a diamond and 18k white gold necklace designed with a graduated row of elephants that sold for $7,500.
An elegant Omega 18k yellow gold Constellation wristwatch with a diamond-enhanced bezel saw active bidding and finally hammered down at $4,500, surpassing its $3,000-5,000 pre-sale estimate.
The large collection of stick pins at the end of the sale also performed well with a lot of 5 enamel, pearl and yellow gold stickpins selling for $1,400, way above the $500-700 pre-sale estimate. Followed by a lot of 4 diamond, multi-stone, enamel, gold and silver stickpins estimated at $500-700 that realized a final sale price of $1,500.
THE ASIAN ART & ANTIQUES
The Asian category was highlighted by a group lot of six Chinese bird feeders that flew to over 10 times their estimate. Executed in both floral motifs and crackle glaze celadon, these bird feeders were estimated to bring $600 – 800 but soared to the final sale price of $9,225.
Rounding out these highlights was a framed and glazed ink on paper by Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1963-1957) titled Tea Kettle, Lotus Roots and Seeds which sold for $4,920. By Chinese artist Pu Ru (1896-1963), the signed ink and color scroll on silk titled Autumn Landscape went off for $4,920.
