OAKLAND, CA.- Clars Auction Gallery hosted their most successful October sale in the company’s history with $1,025,000 in total sales (up 10% from 2018). After recently being purchased by a private investment group in August of this year, Clars new CEO and President, Rick Unruh commented, “Since the acquisition, the new Clars has come out of the gate very strong with two successful auctions. I believe we will continue to see record growth going forward as our market share in the West Coast and beyond increases with the exceptional property we will be offering.”

Fine Art
A collection of works by Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928–2010), one of the premier members of San Francisco’s Bay Area Figurative School, was the highlight of Clars October 13th Auction garnering an impressive evening total of $128,535 for the combined seven lots sold by the artist. Oliveira’s haunting figurative portrait painting, Untitled (Face), soared past its $20,000-40,000 estimate selling for $46,125. This was followed by Oliveira’s 44.5” high bronze sculpture, “Figure Five,” commanding the impressive price of $52,275. Rick Unruh remarked, “This was by far one of the best collections of Oliveiras ever to be offered. We were quite pleased with the strong results for this artist.”

Another Bay Area Figurative artist that outperformed at Clars on October 13th was Berkeley artist, Henrietta Berk (American, 1919–1993), whose oil on canvas, Spring Landscape, sold for $12,300 making it the second highest record price for the artist. A lovely painting titled, Japanese Panel (1921),by East Coast artist, Spencer Baird Nichols (American, 1875–1950), who was a Chief Designer of the Louis Comfort Tiffany studios, also fared well selling for $11,685 well above its $2,000-4,000 estimate.

Robin Leach Collection – First Installment
The first installment of the personal collection of entertainment icon, notable journalist and philanthropist Robin Leach (1941-2018) was presented on October 13th and the world market responded. Just 68 lots were offered with most soaring past their estimate realizing a total of $64,515 for this initial installment.

Leach’s personal collection of fine wines and champagnes was heatedly sought out by collectors and connoisseurs alike. The 26 lots offered sold for over $25,000 with the highlights of this group being a 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut that earned an impressive $6,710 followed by a Richard Hennessy Cognac which went off for $2,440.

Among the other highlights of this initial offering was a Golden Age style jukebox that more than doubled its estimate selling for $4,270 and a watercolor by Olivia de Berardinis (American, b. 1948) titled Pop Goes the Weasel, 1986,sold nicely for $2,200.

Known as a premier collector of fine paperweights, this initial installment also presented a select group of 5 lots from his collection which performed beyond expectation realizing a total of $7,000.

The second installment of the personal collection of Robin Leach will be presented on Sunday, November 17th. Proceeds from the sale of his personal collection will benefit charities including the Cleveland Clinic/Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, James Beard, and UNLV among others.

Decorative Arts & Furnishings
The highlight of this category was a great surprise during the Saturday session when bidders fought heatedly for a pair of Russian Bisque Figurals of a man and woman. Presale estimate on this lot was $100 – 200 but intense bidding kept driving this lot higher to a very exciting sale price of $13,420!

Among the other top performers in this category was an Arts and Crafts Gustav Stickly Morris chair, model 369 which achieved $4,575 and a lot of 2 Le Corbusier (French, 1887-1965) for Cassina black leather sofas, Petit Modele, LC2, also flew past its estimate realizing $5,500.

Asian Art & Antiques
A Japanese silk panel screen on wooden frame that featured embroidered birds and flowers captivated bidders and collectors. Expected to sell for $4,000, highly competitive bidding drove this lot higher and higher to a final sale price of $14,640.

Another impressive price was realized on a Dongson bronze drum (Heger type 1) that sold for $5,185.

Jewelry & Timepieces
The star of this category was a diamond and 18k rose gold necklace that featured 41 marquise-cut and 82 full-cut diamonds that sold very well for $9,760.

The second top performer in this category was a sapphire (approx. 4.63 cts) and diamond ring set in platinum. The sapphire was accented by 50 full-cut diamonds, This ring surpassed high estimate selling for $6,100.

Clars’ next Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction will be held on Saturday and Sunday November 16th and 17th, 2019. The sales will begin promptly at 9:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. Previews for this sale will be held Friday, November 15th from 1 pm to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00 am and by appointment the week prior. A complete catalog will be available online prior to the sale.