LARCHMONT, NY.- Clarke Auction Gallery’s Spooktacular estate auction on October 15 had no single high-estimate item to push the auction to a grand total of just over $1 million. Instead, it was frighteningly easy how a solid selection of notable and important works across the board from fine art to jewelry and more drove the auction.
“The key to the auction’s success was good fresh-to-market items that were estimated to sell, resulting in robust bidding,” said owner and auctioneer Ronan Clarke. “It was steady throughout the day with the rare items as usual far exceeding estimates.” While the furniture market remains a bit slow with pieces going best when offered without reserves, most other categories here were overachievers. Phone and online bidders were in stiff competition with each other, splitting their takings fairly evenly.
The top lot of the auction crossed the block about an hour or so into the session. The 24-inch tall Tiffany Studios “Daffodil” table lamp handily surpassed its high estimate to achieve $52,500. The base of the lamp was marked “Tiffany Studios NY # 28619” and the 20-inch shade “Tiffany Studios NY.”
Clarke’s has long been known for sussing out fine paintings and this sale was no exception with several rare and important works coming back to the market after decades in private collections. The standout of this group was a Henry Koerner (American/Austrian, 1915-1991) gouache on board. “Coming from a local estate, the Henry Koerner study was a true gem,” according to Clarke’s fine art specialist Peter Schweller. Buyers clearly agreed and drove the painting to $50,000. The work was unsigned but Clarke’s did their due diligence and was able to authenticate the work by contacting the artist’s family. “We were able to determine the work was a study for the much larger ‘Showboat’ painting done in 1948,” Schweller said. “Our painting came from Koerner’s dynamic and important ‘Magical Realist’ period where he created multi-layered figural paintings based upon his traumatic experiences of the Second World War combined with figures of his youth from Vienna’s carnivals and his transition to America and the elements of Brooklyn’s Coney Island.”
The selection of fine art in this auction was small but curated with other standouts being a three-quarters length portrait of a gentleman dressed in black and surrounded by heraldic emblems from the circle of George Gower (British, circa 1540-1596) that sold well over its high estimate to bring $40,000. Adding a touch of mystery and exciting bidders, the oil on panel had a shipping label on the back reading “Churchill” and Christie’s stencils.
“The Circle of George Gower painting was conservatively estimated due to its poor condition but international and private bidders knew that this rare Elizabethan portrait was a strong rendering and the numerous heraldic emblems surrounding the figure were possible clues to identifying the unknown sitter,” Schweller said. “The painting was acquired by the British trade so I am sure, once fully restored and researched, we will see it again.”
Paintings spanned centuries and styles; modern and contemporary offerings remain popular. A Frank Stella lithograph and screenprint in colors, “Port aux Basque,” earned $25,000. The Stella work is from his “Newfoundland” series of 1971, signed and dated in pencil and numbered 56/58.
Fine art here was not restricted to flat art hung on walls as a Paul Evans sculptured metal disc bar made for Directional in the 1970s fetched $32,500. The signed and dated piece has a diameter of 72 inches and was made of bronze and composite with an ebonized interior.
Leading the jewelry and timepieces category was not one but two fine Cartier desk clocks. First up across the block was a fine example of a cased Cartier desk clock and barometer in the Art Deco style with just a hint of Asian influence. Boasting fine enameling and agate, the circa 1919-36 clock doubled its high estimate to bring $37,500. Also outperforming its estimate was a Cartier rock crystal and diamond desk clock with rose-cut diamond accents, a field of white enamel and a silvered blue guilloche dial that made $47,500.
Overall, the jewelry category was quite diverse. In addition to the desk clocks above, highlights included an antique 18K yellow gold, platinum, diamond and gem moon pendant ($1/$1,500) that brought $9,375 and centered by a moonstone carved as a smiling moon surrounded by 16 Old Mine diamonds and red and blue gemstones. Also highlighting the sale at $7,500 each were a 2.01-carat round brilliant cut diamond engagement ring in platinum flanked by diamond baguettes and a man’s Rolex Explorer watch, Ref. # 214270, with box and papers.
Prices were strong throughout the auction and quite a few lots offered nice surprises, going well over their estimates, including a Rookwood vase by noted decorator Fred Rothenbusch. He worked as a decorator there from 1896 to 1931 and is celebrated for his use of vellum glazes. Estimated conservatively at $300-$500, the 7-inch tall vase depicting moonlight on water and boasting a large leaf in relief realized $8,125.
The Asian arts category also did well with several lots handily outperforming their estimates, including a signed Chinese bronze tripod censer with lion’s head handles that smoked its $300-500 estimate to bring $8,125 and a monumental pair of Japanese lidded jars on stands with colorful enamel decoration and foo dog handles perched on craggy rocks ($800-1,200) that went out at $7,500.
Rounding out the auction were a large cobalt, gilt bronze and crystal chandelier, probably Russian and having a fine patina on the bronze work, which earned $10,000; a finely carved antique marble bird bath, with carved birds, swags and a dragon at $6,875 and a signed Eighteenth-Nineteenth Century 18K yellow gold and enamel hinged box depicting a figure atop a dolphin on the lid flanked by wheat sheaves, $6,875.
