OAKLAND, CA.- Clars Auction Gallery’s February 24th and 25th Important Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry/Timepieces and Asian Art Auction drew high profile and investment level collectors, celebrities and global bidders for the important property that was offered in all categories of this sale. After the sale, Deric Torres, Vice President of Decorative Art & Furnishings commented, “It was a great honor for Clars to represent the property from these important estates and collections and we were extremely pleased at the global reach we achieved and securing the results we did for our consignors and the collectors we serve. Achieving the price we did for the Tiffany lamp, setting a new world fine art record, confirms that Clars competes and succeeds in this robust world market.”

Highlights in Decorative Arts & Furnishings
The star of this sale was the circa 1910 Tiffany Studios Venetian table lamp that was offered with the estimate of $50,000 - $70,000. The bidding on the piece opened at $25,000 and quickly, highly competitive bidding drove this lamp well beyond expectation selling for $102,850.

Also performing extremely well was the second installment of fine and decorative art from the Sterling Vineyards Winery Art Collection. This installment, which was comprised of just 57 lots, realized $60,000. The highlight of this collection was a circa 1800 Spanish vargueno that sold over the high estimate for $6,050. The next installment of property from this collection will be offered at Clars on March 25, 2018.

Lovers of Hermes’ designs vied heavily for four Birkin handbags and one Kelly handbag which pursed a total of $32,865.

Musical instrument collectors were also present during the auction. Aggressive bidding on a Lyon and Healy concert grand harp drove the final price to twice its high estimate selling for $12,100.

The modern portion of the sale was also quite strong highlighted by a Herve Van Der Straeten “Astrolab” patinated bronze chandelier that realized $11,495.

Wine aficionados were not the only ones in attendance at this sale. Breweriana collectors were on hand as well and bid robustly on a collection of items from the Pacific Coast Brewing Company. The highlight of this collection was a circa 1900 Victorian mahogany and leaded glass bar, back bar, and cabinet that was original to the Pacific Coast Brewing location on Washington Street in Oakland (CA) for 29 years. This beautiful piece sold for well over high estimate at $11,495. (Provenance: Sale to benefit the Oakland Museum of California acquisition fund, Oakland, CA)

Highlights in Fine Art
The best fine art outperformer by far on the day was a watercolor titled, Kentucky River Near Jessamine Creek, by Paul Sawyier (American, 1865-1917). Multiple telephone bidders took this lot well past its $8,000-12,000 estimate to a world record price of $54,450 for the artist’s watercolors (and 2nd highest overall). (Provenance: Prominent Piedmont (CA) estate)

Next to soar past its estimate was a Circle of Domenico Feti (Italian, 1589-1624) oil painting titled, St. Jerome (circa 1615-1624). A recent deaccession from the Triton Museum of Santa Clara, California, this 17th century rare work sold for $57,475 - well past it’s $10,000-15,000 estimate.

Last, but not least, of the top 3 highest performers was the painting, Red-Haired Acrobat (1944), by New York artist, Walt Kuhn (American, 1877-1949), selling for the very respectable price of $60,500.

Robert Wood (American, 1889-1979) was known for painting many different landscape locales, but one particular area with its abundant charming purple wildflowers is the most sought after. Bluebonnet Time in Texas is one such work and it blossomed on Sunday, February 25th at Clars selling for $24,200.

Portuguese artist, Silva Porto (1850-1893), is an uncommon sight in California or most anywhere in the U.S. Once noticed, however, his works command high prices internationally which was the case with his oil on canvas, Village Street Corner with Figure. This work doubled its estimate selling for $12,100.

A lovely painting by symbolist painter, Louis Welden Hawkins (French, 1849-1910), titled, Spirit of the Waves, also fared well achieving $9,680. Selling for the same amount was a charming watercolor by Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933), titled, Orientalist Street Vendor Store Front.

Highlights in Asian Art and Antiques
There were numerous over-the-top prices realized in this category. A Chinese handscroll in the manner of Huang Binhong (1865-1955) was expected to fetch $4,500 but soared to three times high estimate selling for $15,730.

Following suit and estimated at $1,000 - $1,500, was a Chinese jade vase with the Qianlong mark that brought an amazing $14,420. (Provenance: Prominent Monterey, CA, collector)

Rounding out the impressive highlights in this category was a Chinese enameled ding-form censer that sold for $7,560 against its $1,000 estimate.

Highlights in Jewelry and Timepieces
Taking the top spot in this category and 7th highest in the sale was a stunning Edwardian era 14k rose gold ring which featured a 4.90 ct. Ceylon sapphire surrounded by diamonds. This ring sold very well for $15,730.

Also performing well was a diamond and 18k white gold ring centered by a 2.11cts princess-cut diamond flanked by 2 trapezoid-cut diamonds and 56 full-cut diamonds. This ring commanded the final sale price of $13,860.