OAKLAND, CA.- On Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 18, 2016, Clars Auction Gallery will present property from several major investment level estates and collections with important pieces spanning fine art, jewelry decorative arts and furnishings and Asian art and antiques. Among the major estates to be presented will be the first in a series of offerings of property from the estate of iconic venture capitalist Thomas J. Perkins (from both his Belvedere, CA estate and grand penthouse in the San Francisco Millenium Towers). Late 20th century and Contemporary Fine Art as well as a large collection of Pre-Columbian antiquities and ethnographic items will be presented from the private collection of Allan Stone, Property from the Trustee of the Bankruptcy Estate of Halsey Minor (San Francisco) CNet Founder, as well as property from the Santa Barbara (CA) Museum of Art, The Birmingham (AL) Museum of Art, The Oakland Museum of California and the World of Design in Southern California and the Estate of Allen Singer (attorney for the painter Gordon Onslow Ford). For two days, this auction will give collectors the rare opportunity to bid on and buy very important pieces from significant estates and collections.

Fine Art
Clars will be offering extraordinary fine art works from one of the world’s premiere collectors of late 20th century and Contemporary fine art, Allan Stone. Spanning half a century, this New York and San Francisco based dealer amassed works by the most talented abstract and realist artists of their generation such as Wayne Thiebaud, James Havard, Dennis Hare, John Evans, Jose Vermeersch, Kazuko Inoue and many others.

Also from the Estate of San Francisco attorney, Allen Singer, comes a spectacular collection of paintings by Gordon Onslow Ford (American/British, 1912 – 2003) and Morris Graves (American, 1910-2001). Singer was not only an avid collector of art, but legal counsel and friend of Ford’s. The highlight of this collection is the rare and early oil on canvas by Onslow Ford titled, Escape, from 1939. Estimated at $65,000-85,000, this painting was exhibited at the Nierendorf Gallery in 1946. Also being offered is a delicate modernist work on paper by Morris Graves titled, Summer Bouquet (1997), which is estimated at $12,000-18,000. All proceeds from the sale of Mr. Singer's Estate will benefit the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL).

Another collector of exceptional Contemporary fine art who was an early pioneer of the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay area will also be featured on September 18th. Defining works by such artists as Caio Fonseca (American, b. 1959) with the large acrylic on canvas titled, Tenth Street Painting (1996), estimated at $20,000-40,000 as well as the sleek lacquered metal, plastic, Corian and anodized aluminum installation piece titled, Assemblage #2, by French artists, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec offered for $30,000-50,000. These as well as many other fine paintings by Alex Kanevsky, Siddharth Parasnis, Betsy Eby, and Catherine McCarthy will be sold on behalf of the Trustee of the Bankruptcy Estate of Halsey McLean Minor (San Francisco).

These are just a few of the many extraordinary and ‘not to be missed’ fine art offerings that will be featured at Clars' September 17th and 18th Auction.

Decorative Arts and Furnishings
Thomas J Perkins was not only a genius in analysis and investing he was also internationally known for his collecting and prestigious lifestyle. To be offered from his estate will be his personal Steinway New York Model D concert grand piano that is estimated to bring $40,000 - $60,000 and a spectacular and rare custom French style Double harpsichord after Blanchet/Taskin, made by Zuckerman (ZHI) which carries an estimate of $10,000 - $15,000. (The continuation of offerings from the Perkins Estate will be presented at Clars October 15-16 and November 12-13, 2016 auctions)

Coming from the private collection of Allan Stone will be a large collection of Pre-Columbian antiquities and ethnographic items. Among the highlights of this collection will be a Pre-Columbian Nayarit terracotta female figure as well as an Indonesia, Celebes Island, Toraja Peoples Sarcophagus.

Several important lighting works will be offered by makers including Tiffany Studios, Handel and Pairpoint. A highlight of these offerings is a Tiffany Studios, New York, geometric table lamp which will be offered for $8,000 - $12,000.

Also to be offered will be a number of major Arts and Crafts pieces. Several works by Arthur and Lucia Mathews furniture include a blanket chest with hand painted reserve that is expected to fetch $30,000 - $40,000 and a Dirk Van Erp hammered copper table lamp will be offered for $8,000 - $12,000.

Additional furniture highlights include a selection of Amish furniture attributed to Soap Hollow (PA), featuring a polychrome decorated chest, signed by John Sala. Also to be offered are several fine carpets including an Antique Persian Serapi carpet estimated at $6,000-$9,000 and an Antique Aubusson carpet, France, circa 1860, from the Birmingham Museum of Art, valued at $5,000-$7,000.

Traveling on to luxury accessories, highlights will include a Louis Vuitton wardrobe, and steamer trunk, early 20th century, that will be offered for $10,000-15,000, and a cabin trunk estimated at $5,000-$7000.

Jewelry and Timepieces
Be dazzled and be jeweled at Clars September 17-18 sale indeed! Extraordinary timepieces and jewelry from the Estate of Thomas J. Perkins will headline this category. Included from this collection is a very rare Mido “Ettore Bugatti” 18k yellow gold wristwatch, circa 1925 that will be offered for $6,000 - $9,000. (Note: Only 12 watches of this type are known to still be in existence). Also from the man who seemed to have “time on his side” is a collection of three Franck Muller 18k yellow gold wristwatches, each carrying an estimate of $5,000 - $7,000.

And for the women, to be offered will be a G. Nardi ebony, diamond and 18k yellow gold Blackamoor dress set estimated to adorn at $10,000 - $15,000.

Rounding out this dazzling category will be an Art Deco ruby, diamond and platinum bracelet, with total diamond weight of 12cts, that will also be offered for $10,000 - $15,000.

Asian Art and Antiques
The important offerings in this category will include a significant selection of calligraphies by Yu Youren (Chinese, 1879-1964), a renowned scholar, calligrapher and politician from the early 20th century, coming from the estate of a prominent Republic period official. One set of four calligraphy was dedicated to his son Yu Wangde and daughter-in-law Hu Ying in China’s Republic 40th year (1951), after he survived an illness. This set will be offered for $30,000-$50,000. This collection also includes various carved seals of Yu Youren, his eldest son Yu Wangde and family members as well as a kesi tapestry with scholar’s items, bearing the seal sealed ‘Wang Zanxu’ (1885-1960). Wang Zanxu was a politician and military official from Sichuan.

In addition, Clars will be offering a selection of Chinese ceramics, including monochromes, enamel and underglaze blue decorated pieces. Also there will be thangkas reputed to be from the Walter Koelz Collection, Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan Museum of Art.

In furniture, the highlight will be a huanghuali veneered coffer, fronted by two drawers and carved with dragons on the apron, that will be offered for $25,000-$45,000.

Clars’ September 2016 Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry/Timepieces and Asian Art Auction will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th, 2016. The sales will begin promptly at 9:30am on Saturday and Sunday. Previews for this sale will be held Friday, September 16th from 1pm to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00 am and by appointment the week prior. A complete catalog will be available online one and one-half weeks prior to the sale.