OAKLAND, CA.- “Twilight,” the newly discovered painting by Elliot Daingerfield (American 1859-1932) recently found concealed inside a mirror at Clars Auction Gallery took an exciting leap from “amazing discovery” to “hidden treasure” status when it skyrocketed to over four times it’s high estimate selling for an astonishing $39,325 on Sunday, April 17th at Clars Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry/Timepieces and Asian Art Auction.

Redge Martin, President of Clars stated, “The painting generated a huge amount of interest pre-sale, because of the story behind it. We had eight phone bidders including museum representation. With a touch of humor, it's the highest price paid for a mirror at Clars, as well as a North Carolina painting. Everyone in our industry loves discovering the painting version of an "attic find".

The painting was discovered in March 2016 by Deric Torres, Vice President of Decorative Arts and Furnishings, inside the backing of a mirror from a prominent Pebble Beach (CA) estate, that was being prepped for an upcoming sale. It was quickly identified by Rick Unruh, Vice President of Fine Art, to be a landscape by Elliot Daingerfield depicting Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina. “Being preserved behind a mirror for over 40 years, the painting was in exceptional condition. This, and the story itself, contributed to one of the highest auction prices achieved in many years for this artist and 6th highest overall,” commented Rick Unruh after the sale.

The bidding on “Twilight” opened at $3,000 and the battle ensued from there. In the end it came down to two private phone bidders fighting furiously driving the final sale price to $39,325, well past its $6,000 to $9,000 estimate.

Daingerfield is considered one of America’s great artists who captured the wonder and splendor in his landscapes and is also considered one of North Carolina’s most prolific artists. Not only was this an exciting event for Clars and the consignor, it also served as testament to the appreciation for the works of Elliot Daingerfield and the enduring legacy they continue to provide.