LARCHMONT, NY.- Important paintings, fine jewelry and striking decorative objects ranging from Japanese vases to tiny gold boxes drove Clarke Auction Gallery’s October 29-30 auction to a grand total of over $1.5 million. There was no one superstar lot but many lots that were notable, many outperforming their estimates, and 16 lots that hammered for over $10,000 apiece.

Quality plus quantity were buzzwords bandied about for this auction that was packed with over 800 lots carefully sourced from fine estates across Westchester and Connecticut’s “gold coast.” One estate in particular, from a former gallerist who lived in Hollis, Queens, and worked in the jewelry industry most of his life. His relatives consigned many of the jewelry items in the second session from his estate.

Overall, the sale offered a rare grouping of very fine items across the board from collectors who had a fine eye for quality. “Everything we put up did well, they were good and fresh and fresh was the key,” said owner and auctioneer Ronan Clarke. He noted many of the top lots went to the phones and bidding was quite competitive on many lots.

The top lot came early on in the first session amid a strong group of paintings and was a signed Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911-2020) oil on canvas, “Se Conduire,” which attained $57,500 that came out of a Greenwich estate. The 23-by-28-inch painting sparked a bidding between five phone bidders before it was down to one.

The parade of fine paintings across the block continued with a signed Ivan Fedorovich Choultse (Russian, 1874-1939) oil on canvas, “Garden” that did well at $35,000; an Orville Bulman (American, 1904-1978) oil on canvas, “Les Tres Bon Jour,” that brought $30,000.

A bit of longstanding drama and legal wrangling also came to a close at the auction when an Aldro Hibbard painting, “Country Fair,” sold for $25,000. The painting was mistakenly sold for $200 in an area tag sale in 2019 and ended up in litigation between the owner and the buyer, until both parties recently agreed to auction it and split the proceeds.

One trend that marked this auction was the plethora of items far exceeding their estimates. The auction house is usually spot-on with its estimates but this sale proved to hold many surprises as bidders created a frenzy for “fresh merch,” driving prices up. One such lot was a diminutive Henry Lawerence Faulkner (American, 1924-1981) oil on board of a street scene ($1/1,500) that measured only 8 by 10 inches but brought $17,500. Other lots that easily trumped their estimate included a signed Fernand Renard (French, 1912-1990) still life with flower oil on canvas that soared over its $800-1,200 estimate to blossom at $13,750 and a Tiffany style bronze standing lamp with a large leaded shade and patinated bronze base ($800-1,000) that earned $11,875.

Some say furniture and “brown wood” is soft and indeed there is evidence to support this claim but rare and unusual pieces will always perform well. Such was the case with an Arthur Espenet Carpenter mushroom chest that more than doubled its high estimate to achieve $17,500. The rare piece, standing 42 inches tall, is circa 1970 and was signed twice. “It was beautiful in person and did super,” Clarke said, adding that they had previously auctioned a pair of Carpenter stands from a consignor so he offered up a chest in this auction.




The Asian arts category was small but highly select, led by a pair of signed Japanese Ando Jubei enamel vases with decoration of peaches that were conservatively estimated at $300-500 but were driven by bidders up to $11,250.

A nice surprise was a signed Yabu Meizan Japanese Satsuma vase, standing a mere 4 inches tall, that also handily outperformed its estimate to bring $11,250. Whitney Bria, Clarke’s jewelry specialist who also curated the Asian arts offerings here, noted that larger examples are selling for $20,000 so she knew this one would do well but didn’t expect it to hit as high as it did.

Midcentury Modern has been quite popular at auctions for some years now and shows no signs of slowing. Among iconic designers was Vladimir Kagan, who was represented in this auction with several pieces. A two-piece upholstered sectional sofa made $11,250 while a Kagan coffee table having a thick kidney-shaped glass top took $6,875.

The first session featured several popular collecting categories but day two was dominated by fine jewelry, especially diamonds. Clarke organized the two-day specifically to make the second session a jewelry auction, accented by silver and a few decorative smalls like snuff bottles and gold boxes.

Whitney Bria, Clarke’s jewelry specialist, was very excited to curate her first jewelry auction instead of having these items just be part of a regular auction. “It was very successful for us and what’s even more notable is that the vast majority of this collection was antique jewelry and I was seeing the bidding trending to this,” she said. She explained that contemporary or couture jewelry always attracts a strong following so it was great to see buyers respond to these antique pieces. “Several lots flew past estimate and a lot of colored stones did well in addition to diamond jewelry,” she said, describing bidding as slow and steady.

The top lot in this session was a nearly 5-carat diamond and platinum ring that attained $30,000 and it was followed by a 14K gold, diamond, ruby and emerald floral spray brooch that surpassed its $2/3,000 estimate to fetch $22,500. The Tiffany name is synonymous with jewelry and crossing the block was a Tiffany & Co. 18K gold and lapis lazulis brooch that went well over its $800-1,200 estimate to attain $13,750. Patek Philippe watches are highly sought after and this sale featured an 18K gold open-faced minute repeater pocket watch that quadrupled its high estimate to realize $17,500.

For those without a lot of display space and who adore smalls, as small objects are dubbed in the trade, boxes are quite desirable for shelves and topping coffee tables and dressers.

Enameled gold boxes always perform well but the ones here exceeded Bria’s expectations and came out of the Hollis estate. “He only bought the best and he bought beautiful things,” she said.

Highlights that buyers latched onto included a Swiss 18K yellow gold and enamel snuff box. It had cut corners and enamel decoration throughout and on the lid a woman wearing a floral crown lounged in a garden near a cherub.Another standout of a box here was a Continental (likely German) 18K gold, mother-of-pearl, colored gem and diamond hinged box with gilt pique decoration and set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in a floral motif. Both boxes handily swept past their high estimates to fetch $10,625 each. Also notable was an Art Deco Russian 14K gold and sapphire case, having fine line work and a sapphire cabochon thumbpiece, which realized $6,875. Stamped in the interior was an early 20th Century Russian domestic hallmark of a woman’s head facing right along with a city stamp signifying St Petersburg.
More jewelry and Asian arts, including jade, from the Hollis estate will be on offer in the November 20 auction.

Among numismatics highlights were an 1801 $10 draped bust eagle gold coin that doubled its high estimate to take $13,750 and a 1900 $20 Liberty head double eagle gold coin minted in Philadelphia, $8,125.