On Sunday, November 11th, Clars Auction Gallery featured an exceptional fine art sale which drew highly competitive offers from collectors and galleries around the world. Impressive works from American and European artists, contemporary to old masters, drove record bidding resulting in three new world records.

Rick Unruh, Vice President and Director of Fine Art commented after the event, “We were very pleased with numerous lots far exceeding their estimates in Sunday’s sale. In particular, the painting, “A Moment of Prayer” by Rudolf Johann Weisse (Swiss, 1846-1933), sold to a winning phone bidder in Europe for $82,950. This was a new world record for the artist and just one example of our ever increasing global presence.” This striking Orientalist painting came to the sale with a presale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.

The second new record was set for American abstract sculptor James Rosati (1911-1988). Rosati is best known for his large stone and stainless steel sculptures of which approximately 40 are on display around the world. The record setting work offered at Clars was a painted steel sculpture he titled “Big Red”, 1963. Expected to fetch $20,000 on the high side, this work earned a record $24, 885.

But no doubt, the most surprising and exciting offering of the sale was another sculpture that well exceeded its $4,000 to $6,000 estimate and also set a new record for an after bronze of Jean de (Giovanni da) Bologna (Italian, 1529-1608). This 19th century Italian School bronze sculpture titled “The Rape of the Sabine Women,” was a rare early casting of this work, measuring 22 inches high on a 5-inch marble base. An international bidding war ensued on this piece driving the winning hammer price to $82,950.

Furthering the strong performance of sculptures at this sale was the bronze by Henri Godet (French, 1863-1937) titled, “Le Ravissement de Psyche (after Bouguereau),” which sold very well for $13, 035 followed by another very successful sale of an Elizabeth Catlett (American, 1915-2012) bronze, this one titled “Mother and Child,” which fetched just under $8,300.

A new edition record was earned for Wayne Thiebaud (Californian, b. 1920) on his color etching “Freeway Curve” which sold for $7,110. The solid price of $11,850 was realized for “Vagaries of War,” the framed oil on board by Henri Bernard Goetz (French, 1909-1989) and earning almost double its high estimate was “Garden by the Sea,” (PHOTO 5) an oil on canvas by Guiseppe D’Angelico Pino (American, 1939-2010) which sold for $8,888.

Clars November Fine Art sale was one of their most impressive to date fueling the overall sale gross of $1.2 million.

Clars next Fine Art sale will be held Sunday, December 9th in conjunction auction of fine furnishings, decoratives, jewelry and Asian antiques. A complete catalog of all lots to be offered will be available online one week prior to the sale.

Preview for this sale will be Friday, December 7th, from 1pm to 6pm and beginning at 9am on both Saturday,  December 8th  and Sunday, December 9th.  For complete information on the November Fine Art sale and the lots to be offered in December, please visit www.clars.com, call (510) 428-0100 or email: info@clars.com.

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.