OAKLAND, CA.- At the conclusion of
Clars April 25 & 26, 2015 Fine Art, Decoratives, Jewelry and Asian Antiques Auction, it was clear that Asian commanded the weekend achieving remarkable prices. The sale generated $1.1 million once again confirming the high demand for fine Asian offerings and the ability of Clars to represent this market. This was Clars largest April auction in their history.
The star of the weekend was a Chinese stone inlaid cabinet from the Qing dynasty. The upper section featured openwork panels and doors carved with gui-dragons. The lower doors featured a garden scene of scholars in elegant pursuit composed of mother-of-pearl inlay and stones including lapis lazuli, carnelian and soapstones. Due to conditions issues, the cabinet was estimated to bring $700 to $1,000. That quickly changed when an online bidder opened at $13,000. Immediately several phone bidders jumped in the game and intense competition quickly escalated the increments landing at the final astonishing sale price of $233,000.
Highly competitive bidding was also seen on a Chinese Ge-type ceramic brush washer, base bearing label ‘Bluett & Son, London.’ Estimated to sell for $800 to $1,200, this piece commanded a remarkable $32,725.
Bidders also battled it out at Clars in the hopes of owning a piece of Rock ‘n Roll history. An exceptional collection of early Bill Graham and Family Dog lithographic posters were offered, of which all but a few were extremely rare vintage first printings and had been kept in near mint condition. Due to the owner’s excellent conservation of these posters they attracted the attention of numerous collectors and dealers as well as the author Eric King—famous for his detailed catalogue of Bill Graham and Family Dog Psychedelic posters from this era. Mr. King, a local Bay Area resident, attended Clars Friday preview, personally authenticating the famous Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley “Skeleton and Roses,” poster stating its condition was the best he had seen. While all 70 posters sold, the holy grail of the posters—Mouse and Kelley’s, “Skeleton and Roses”— created for the Grateful Dead’s 1966 concert at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco—hammered at a world auction record of $19,000. The incredible sale happened just before the much-anticipated Grateful Dead farewell tour this summer, and helped to catapult the entire collection to realize nearly $60,000.
In Decorative Arts and Furnishings, special collections also performed well. From the Richard Mellon-Scaife estate, the collection of Staffordshire figures offered realized over $19,000. Clars was also honored to have been chosen to represent the sale of the fine art and furnishings from the famed Carnelian Room Restaurant in San Francsico. Of note from this special collection was a pair of Napolean III ormolu mounted and inlaid vitrines which sold for well over estimate at $13,100. And selling for well over it’s original 1960s list price and for well over estimate was a beautiful blue Plymouth Fury four door hard top that cruised off at $14,280.
Rounding out this successful sale was the top jewelry lot, a stunning retro diamond and platinum bracelet featuring 15 marquise cut diamonds and numerous baguette cut diamonds, which surpassed its high estimate achieving $17,850.
Clars Auction Gallery’s next Fine Art, Decoratives, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction will be held Saturday and Sunday , May 30th and 31st , 2015.. The sales will begin promptly at 9:30am on Saturday and Sunday. Previews for this sale will be held Friday, May 29th from 1pm to 6pm and 9am, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:30 am and by appointment. A complete catalog will be available online one and one-half weeks prior to the sale.
