OAKLAND, CA.- Important fine art led the sale on September 15th as collectors and buyers competed strongly for the investment level works offered. Numerous offerings in all categories soared well past expectations making this a very exciting sale. The property to be offered at this sale came from prominent California estates as well as museums, private institutions and special collections.

THE FINE ART
The “star of the show” on September 15th was the highly anticipated rare 13-foot woodblock print by M.C. Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) titled Metamorphosis II, 1939/1940. Considered Escher’s most ambitious project, this work was offered for $80,000 - $100,000 and sold very well for $98,400.

Taking second place, and creating a frenzy of international bidding, was an oil on canvas by Vladimir Becic (Croatian, 1886-1954). Landscape, Bosnia#1, was estimated to sell for $2,000 – 4,000. The bidding opened at $1,000 and immediately jumped to $21,000 creating a bidding war driving the final sale price on this work to a very exciting $49,200.

Experiencing a similar bidding frenzy was the oil on canvas by James Taylor Harwood (American, 1860-1940) titled Autumn Waterfall (Utah). Offered for $8,000 – 12,000, this work quickly escalated to more than double its high estimate selling for $28,290.

This trend continued on an Italian School (16th/17th century)/Follower of Raffaello Sanzo da Urbino Italian, (1483-1520) work. Portrait of a Woman (Maddalena Strozi Doni), an unsigned oil on panel soared from its estimate of $5,000 – 7,000 to the final sale price of $20,910.

An oil on canvas by Joseph Kleitsch (American, 1862-1931) sold for triple its high estimate. Titled Seville, 1926, this oil on canvas sold for a very impressive $19,680.

The other top performers in the Fine Art category included the Old Master work, Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints and Angels from the Arezzo School/Circle of Neri di Bicci (Italian, 1419-1491) which achieved $43,750.

Peanuts, the beloved comic strip by Charlez M. Schulz (American, 1922-2000), is always in high demand. His original ink on paper comic strip, “Are you going to Play Today Charlie Brown?” 1964, soared nicely over estimate to sell for $17,500.

Concluding the top performers of this sale were three prints. From Jacques Villegle (French, b.1926), Le Pape et Les Freres Miseres - Colonne Morris, Cathedrale Saint-Caprais, Agen, 1997, a torn posters collage sold for $27,500. Two paintings: Green Lamp, from Paintings Series, 1984, a woodcut, lithograph, screenprint and collage in colors by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997) also fetched $27,500 and “Pop Shop III(c), 1987”, by Keith Haring (American, 1958-1990) sold for nicely over estimate for $16,250.

THE ASIAN ART & ANTIQUES
The very exciting and impressive prices realized on the offerings in this category began during the Saturday session when a number of lots soared to unexpected heights. During this session, a group of Vietnamese ceramics in zoomorphic forms from the Tran/Le Dynasty (14th/16th c) flew from their estimate of $2,500 to $14,000 followed by a Chinese white glazed bottle vase that sold for $10,880, seriously surpassing its $450 estimate. The Saturday session was just a glimpse of what would come on Sunday.

Commanding the second highest price of the sale was Abstract Landscape [PHOTO 5] by Liu Guosong/Liu Kuo-sung (Chinese, b.1932). This ink and color on paper was offered for $15,000 - $25,000 and the bidding opened at $7,500. Once again, heated bidding drove the final price higher and higher to an incredible $55,350. (Provenance: acquired through Jeanne Watten, founder and director of the Art Guild, a collective gallery in Taipei Taiwan, representing contemporary artists from 1966-1974)
The Sunday session saw several other impressive surprises in this category. A set of four Chinese underglaze blue porcelain bowls sold for $20,910. In the Vietnamese offerings, two celadon glazed ceramic plates from the Ly Dynasty (11th/12th c) flew to $14,760 (estimate: $1,000 – 1,500) and a set of two blue and white large chargers from the Le Dynasty (15th c) fetched as impressive $12,160 (estimate: $1,500 – 2,500). (Provenance: Prominent Private San Diego Collection).

THE DECORATIVE ARTS & FURNISHINGS
Ancient Egypt topped the charts in this category with a 26th dynasty (500BC) Egyptian bastet selling very well for $12,300. (Provenance: Prominent San Francisco Bay Area Collection thence by family descent)

Leaded glass lamps from Tiffany and Handel realized impressive prices. A Tiffany Studios patinated bronze and leaded glass Acorn table lamp sold for over high estimate for $11,070 as did a Handel patinated bronze and leaded glass lamp that realized $6,150.

This sale presented a strong selection of Mid-Century Modern Design furniture. A pair of circa 1960 Preben Fabricus & Jorgen Kastholm FK 82 “X” chairs commanded $6,400. A pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar caned and black lacquered wing back lounge chairs, Model 6016, went out for $5,120.

In sterling, the top seller was a French Egyptian Revival silver centerpiece bowl that sold for $7,680.

THE JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES
The fine jewelry dazzled the bidders and the prices realized reflected the rich selection that was presented.

Topping this category was a sapphire (11.95 cts), diamond and 18k white gold ring that soared to $29,520 against its $6,000 – 9,000 estimate.

Also more than doubling its estimate was an emerald (14.05 cts), diamond and gold platinum ring that fetched an impressive $27,060.

From designer Enrico Serafini, his ruby, diamond and platinum bracelet surpassed high estimate earning $19,680. Buccellati designs also outperformed with a diamond and 18k yellow gold bracelet soaring to $17,920 and a sapphire, diamond and 18k yellow gold ring selling for $13,530.

Three examples presented from Van Cleef & Arpels continued to captivate bidders. A diamond, cultured pearl and 18k gold necklace brought $11,685 (estimate: $4,000 – 6,000); a pair of cultured pearl diamond and 18k gold earrings expected to sell for $1,500, skyrocketed to $9,840 and a diamond and 18k gold flower brooch realized $8,540 (estimate: $1,500 – 3,000).