OAKLAND, CA.- On Sunday, February 17th, the energy in the saleroom at
Clars Auction Gallery was electrifying as bidders waited anxiously for numerous historic lots to be presented for sale. Phone bidders were poised from around the world as well for what would become an international bidding event.
The 34 Carat Diamond Ring
A 34.28 carat fancy light yellow old mine cut diamond and platinum ring that boasts both rarity and rich history came to the sale from the historic Spenger Collection of the San Francisco Bay Area. Bidding on this extraordinary diamond opened at $200,000 and the sale price quickly escalated to $530,000 selling to a bidder in the saleroom.
This diamond ring’s provenance purportedly dates back to King Kalakaua of Hawaii who reportedly purchased this ring in 1887. In 1890, the King took out a loan on the ring from Crocker Bank in San Francisco but passed away shortly after and the ring remained held by Crocker Bank. The bank later sold the ring to a private collector in Texas who held it until 1950 when it was acquired by Frank Spenger, owner of the famous Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley, CA.
Rare Japanese Vase from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
The recently discovered monumental 8-foot Japanese cloisonné vase created by Japan for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, gained international attention prior to this sale. Believed missing for over 100 years, it had been actually hiding in plain site in the main dining room of Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley, CA. (Provenance: Spenger Collection)
Numerous museums, private institutions and collectors were poised to bid on this historic vase which was estimated to sell for $30,000 - $50,000. The bidding opened at $15,000 but that number was quickly surpassed as the battle from the floor and phones began driving the final sale price to $135,000 ultimately selling to a private buyer in New York.
FINE ART
New Record Set for Artist Tadeusz Brzozowski (Polish, 1918-1987)
The highest auction price ever achieved on a work by Tadeusz Brzozowski outside of Poland, was set at Clars on Sunday February 17th, on his oil on canvas titled Stancja, 1961. This work was originally exhibited at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle (WA). Known for his surrealistic paintings, he is regarded as one of the most colorful artists of the Krakow Arts Community.
This painting was offered with an estimate of $20,000 – 30,000 and 12 phone bidders were on the line to vie for this work. Once the bidding opened, the estimate was in the dust as the sale price escalated to the new record price of $159,000.
There were more impressive fine art prices realized at this sale. A black chalk on paper by Gustav Klimt (Austrian, 1862-1918) titled Im Lehnstuhl sitzernd von vorne, beide Unteratme aufgestutzt (Adele Bloch-Bauer), 1903, surpassed estimate selling for $28,000.
A real surprise was had on a 20th century American School unsigned oil on canvas, which came from a local private institution, titled Portrait of a Gentleman Sitting for a Portrait. This work was estimated at $500 – 700 but highly competitive bidding from the Internet and floor drove the sale price to an amazing $22,000.
Rounding out the top highlights was a color etching and aquatint on arches paper by Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983). Titled Le Femme Arborescente, 1974, this work performed well selling for $16,000.
SPENGER MARITIME COLLECTION – 2nd Installment Tops $100,000
The second installment of the historic Spenger Maritime Collection was offered on February 17th. Just 60 lots from this extensive collection were offered in this sale and former patrons of the famed Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto and maritime collectors alike competed heavily driving this offering’s total to over $100,000 with most lots surpassing high estimates.
The top seller in this installment was an authentic No 3 Divinhood Miller-Dunn Co. navy standard shallow water diving helmet which sold for over estimate for $8,000. Selling for over 10 times its estimate was the carved ship’s nameboard from the SS Guam Bear which achieved an exciting $5,000.
Rounding out the highlights from this installment was a United States mahogany and brass surveying instrument with a wooden housed telescope and engraved “Ben Pike Junr., 294 Broadway, New York.” Expected to sell for $1,200, it sold for $4,300. Selling for twice its estimate was a large bronze bell on stand reading FT. GARRATT SAN FRANCISCO that achieved $4,000.
The 3rd installment of the Spenger Maritime Collection will be offered at Clars on March 16th and 17th, 2019.
DECORATIVE ARTS & FURNISHINGS HIGHLIGHTS
Mid century modern offerings were very strong at this sale. A 1950s Danish Modern Finn Juhl (1912-1989) for Niels Vodder Chieftain chair blew past all expectations selling for astonishing $49,000 surpassing its $5,000 – 7,000 estimate.
Designs by Walter Lamb for Brown-Jordan also impressively surpassed their estimates. The first, a settee expected to realize $6,000 sold for $12,300. A circa 1950 patio suite and a pair of chaise lounges both achieved $8,000.
Arts and Crafts offering also performed beyond expectations with the highlight in this genre being a lot of 10 custom designed Greene and Greene style chairs which were offered for $4,000 – 6,000 but sold for $22,000 and a similar table brought almost $10,000.
ASIAN ART AND ANTIQUES HIGHLIGHTS
In keeping with the over-estimate trend at this sale, this category also saw impressive prices. The highlight was a Chinese huanghuali horseshoe back folding chair that fetched $17,000 and a Chinese cloisonné enameled garniture set of 12, decorated with meandering dragons sold for over twice high estimate for $9,000.
JEWELRY HIGHLIGHTS
In addition to the star of this auction, the dazzling 34 carat diamond ring, several other notable prices were achieved in this category. A Columbian emerald, diamond and platinum ring surpassed high estimate selling for $20,000 and an Art Deco diamond and platinum bracelet doubled high estimate earning $12,000.
