A painting by Chinese artist He Kongde was the highlight of Clars Auction Gallery’s May 3 and 4 auction, realizing $98,400. The painting rounded out a strong auction with sales totaling just under $1 million, in which Asian artworks, both antique and contemporary, were clearly the standouts.
Kongde (1925′003) was a professionally trained painter and member of China’s People’s Liberation Army. His 1970 propagandist painting, “Gutian Meeting,” depicts a defining moment in the history of the Chinese Communist party. Kongde painted at least three versions of the composition, one of which was featured in the 1972 Chinese National Exhibition. Clars’s 1970 version was pictured in an article on the artist in the September 2002 issue of China’s Art Observation magazine. On May 4, the painting sold to a California collector after a lively round of bidding that drove the price far above its original $20/40,000 estimate.
Another contemporary Chinese painting, “Portrait of a Man” by Chen Danqing (b 1953) drew significant interest. Part of the artist’s “Tibetan Series,” the painting sold for $52,650, and added to the collection of strong records Clars has developed for Danqing; in February, the gallery sold two other paintings from this series for record-breaking prices.
Antique Asian art objects also realized strong prices. A Chinese solid gilt bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni in the style of the Late Northern Wei dynasty fetched $87,400. The piece was part of the Mrs Christian R. Holmes collection, and bears a label to that effect. Holmes was a noted philanthropist and collector of ancient Chinese bronzes and art objects, many of which now belong to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
Other Buddhist bronze figures offered included a Laotian figure of the Buddha from the Luang Phrabaang period and a Sino-Tibetan gilt figure of Maitreya as a bodhisattva from the Qing dynasty. The bronzes sold for $8,190 each.
Clars also offered a rare Confirmation register from the short-lived Mission Santa Gertrudis in Baja California. Chronicling a period from 1755 to 1768, the register is one of only a very few known to exist from this mission, which ministered to the Cochimi Indian tribe. Needless to say, the sale of such an item attracted the interest of a number of California-based organizations and led to significant phone bidder presence, but the piece ultimately sold to a floor bidder for $17,550.
Traditional antiques, jewelry and artworks fared well during the sale, as well. A Twentieth Century ormolu mounted rococo clock realized $12,870, while a pair of upholstered, mahogany framed Frits Hennigsen Danish armchairs, circa 1940, fetched $9,945. A lady’s platinum Rolex Oyster wristwatch with mother of pearl face and diamond dial and bezel sold for $14,040, and a pair of framed William Keith landscapes realized $9,360.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For additional information, www.clars.com or 510-428-0100.
