On Saturday and Sunday, July 14th and 15th, 2012, Clars will bring to auction important furniture from some of Americas finest designers as well as exceptional fine art offerings, highest quality estate and antique jewelry and impressive Asian offerings. Designated their “Dazzling July Event,” headliners will include Pottier & Stymus, Herter Bros., Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, Edgar Hunt, and Claude Howell to name just a few.

Topping the furniture category, Clars is very honored to bring to market for the first time, a rare and exquisite dining suite executed by Pottier & Stymus, N.Y. in 1874-1875 for the A.A. Cohen Estate in Alameda, California. Held privately for over 125 years, this American Renaissance Revival work of art in furniture is only the third time that contents from this renowned estate have reached the market. This dining suite (Photos 1, 2 & 3) is comprised of the table complete with all of its leaves, twelve chairs that retain the original leather embossed backs, the marble-top sideboard designed to house the leaves, as well as the original servants bell that was attached to the table. The Cohen’s palatial estate, known as Fernside Mansion, and for which this dining suite was executed, was built in 1872 for the staggering sum of $300,000. Designed by architects Wright and Sanders, this massive home was regarded as “the most splendid of all Italian villas in the East Bay … resembling a luxury hotel at a luxury spa.” Surviving only 25 years, the mansion was destroyed in 1897 by fire. The dining suite to be offered at Clars was saved by the family who removed it amid the flames to the safety of a smaller building on the property. The suite remained in the Cohen family until is was privately acquired in 1957 by Raul A. Pena and kept in his family. The A.A. Cohen - Pottier & Stymus dining suite is both a rich piece of American history and example of the finest in American design. According to Deric Torres, Director of Furnishings and Decorative Arts for Clars, this suite has been assigned a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

Historic photos and information courtesy: The archives of the VPCO’s Cohen/Bray House, 1440 29th St., Oakland. California  510-536-1703.  Email cohenbrayhouse@gmail.com Copyright Hank Dunlop, Professor Emeritus. California College of the Arts. 

In addition to this dining suite, an important furniture piece with “Gold Rush” history  will be offered. An impressive American Neo Grec bedroom suite (Photo 4) attributed to Herter Bros. N.Y., 1875 will be offered with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000 to $20,000. This bedroom suite was part of the Harrah’s Pony Express Museum Collection until 1976.

 Turning forward 100 years, a stunning bronze and enameled metal ‘Chan’ low table designed by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne is estimated to sell for $4,000 to $6,000.

 In decorative arts, a spectacular Mexican sterling seven piece hollowware suite of organic free form and lobed bodies, weighing 279.78 troy oz. is estimated to sell for $15,000 to $17,000. This sterling suite is comprised of a hot water kettle on stand with warmer, coffee pot, teapot, cream jug, covered sugar basin, waste bowl and tray. A Georg Jensen sterling silver flatware service in the Pyramid pattern will likely sell for over $10,000 and an exceptional collection of over 80 A. Michelsen, Copenhagen, sterling-gilt enameled Jul commemorative spoons representing years 1911-1990 carries a $7,000 to $9,000 estimate.

 A nice collection of Santa Clara blackware pottery including Blue Corn, Marie & Julian will also be offered as will a selection of 19th and early 20th century windmill weights.

 In fine art, Man Sitting on Quilted Bed, 1949, (Photo 5) a framed oil on canvas, is an excellent example of the works of Claude Howell (American, 1915-1997) who is regarded as the most important painter of native North Carolina art. (Estimate: $15,000 to $25,000) Furthering the American works, the oil on canvas Triple Boats, 1972-1977 by Raimonds Staprans (California, b. 1926) is estimated to earn $8,000 to $12,000 and View of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, an oil on canvas by Hudson River School artist Paul Ritter (German/American, 1829-1907) is expected to sell for $7,000 to $9,000.

 From European artists, Portrait of a Lady, (Photo 6) an oil on canvas attributed to Franz Xaver Winterhalter (German, 1805-1873), is estimated at $10,000 to $20,000. Winterhalter was both a painter and lithographer known for his portraits of royalty in the mid-19th century. British artist Edgar Hunt (1876-1953) will be represented by his oil on canvas, Cockerals in a Hutch which is expected to earn $6,000 to $8,000.

 Highlighting the exceptional antique and estate jewelry offerings for Sunday, July 15th, will be a spectacular men’s oval cabochon cut natural gold-in-quartz and platinum ring estimated at $3,000-5,000 and an elegant lady’s Tiffany & Company solitaire diamond ring (Photo 7) in platinum, set with a cut cornered square mixed cut diamond, weighing 2.16 cts H color, VVS2 clarity. This beautiful Tiffany piece is estimated at $30,000 to $40,000. To be offered during the Saturday session, is a large group of loose gemstones, which will include ruby, spinel, opal, amethyst, citrine, peridot, rose, quartz, topaz, rutilated quartz, labradorite, sunstone and emerald.

 And for the Asian offerings, the highlights of this category will be a Chinese mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden display cabinet, late Qing/Republic period measuring 81.5’’high followed by a pair of Chinese Dehua porcelain figures of the bodhisattva Manjusri and Samantabhadra, late Qing/early Republic period.  A hanging ink and color on silk scroll bearing the signature ‘Xiao Xian’ of the Immortals, late 19th/early20th century, will be offered as will a selection of Chinese scholar’s objects.

 For complete information on Clars dazzling July 14th, and 15th, 2012 Fine Art and Antiques Sale, please visit www.clars.com, call (510) 428-0100 or email: info@clars.com. Previews for this sale will be held Friday, July 13th, from 1pm to 6pm and 9am each auction day. A full catalog will be available online at www.clars.com prior to the sale.

 Bidding for Clars auctions is available in person, by phone, absentee and live online @ www.clars.com, and through www.liveauctioneers.com. Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.