From Saarinen to Spyropoulos: Midcentury and Fine Art Headline January 26th Sale at Clarke Auction

    LARCHMONT, NY, January 22, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In addition to the remaining items from the Connecticut estate that brought near record results earlier in January, an increased selection of important estate-fresh midcentury design and fine art will be featured January 26th at Clarke.

With demand high in the midcentury market, designs of the highest quality are wanted while the rest is being sought less and less. Fortunately for Clarke, some of the best designers will be featured in the January 26th sale. The two featured lots of Dunbar are of equal merit and quality. A set of ten lacquered and upholstered Dunbar dining chairs are to be sold separately from its impressive matching dining table. Each lot is in top shape with elegant and modern design without the industrial or post modern elements of chrome and glass.

Also in the midcentury selection is a beautiful Dunbar woven front server with sliding doors, drawers, and dark patinated brass legs and weave bars. The piece, although not from the same estate as the dining table and chairs, would make a great addition to any Dunbar, or midcentury, collection. The airy construction provides lift and balance to an otherwise dark piece. The quality of craftsmanship is highly evident and the market should definitely bear top worth.

Also highly original is the early Eero Saarinen for Knoll "Grasshopper" chair. This early example of a classic midcentury is another design element that juxtaposes the formality of Dunbar. The beauty of any midcentury layout is the ability to compare and contrast pieces within a single space, which is why the selections of a Carlo Scarpa for Vennini polyhedron chandelier, a goatskin game table, a two tone goatskin center table, a highly unusal Lucite cased grandfather clock, chrome and glass end tables, and a Paul McCobb for Planner Group & Winchendon desk set, could all function in a single atmosphere so well.

Midcentury design extends well beyond furniture and Clarke will also offer several lots including a terra cotta statue of two nudes on gravel, a stoneware vessel by Karen Karnes, a unique and possibly important tile and cut metal lamp, a midcentury Murano lamp, and others.

As a continuation of the highly successful early January art selection, Clarke will offer the final selection of painting from the Connecticut estate previously featured. Also in the art selection, a number of important estate-fresh abstract works, landscapes, and figural portraits will be sold.

Abstract works include an Evgeny Mikhov-Voitenko 1980 abstract gouache accompanied by a 1997 exhibition brochure from New York's Tabakman Museum. The muted green-gray hues of the work provide a look at the more subtle side of abstraction, producing a different effect than the louder and more vibrant works of past sales.

Also featured is the highly important and rare abstract oil on paper by modern Greek artist Yiannis Spyropoulos. The painting was personally dedicated to Eloise Spaeth of Rye, NY and remained in her estate collection until recently. Spaeth and her husband were instrumental in art collecting and were legendary supporters of the arts in New York. Spryopoulos' painting is abstractionism with minimal use of color, yet the darkness of the piece is an essential element to the effect of the work through its paper support.

The most colorful by lighting standards is the important centralized green abstract by Camille Hillarie, entitled "L'ERTE." The French artist's work has great tone and, like all abstracts in the selection, is highly unique.

More traditional art will be featured in the sale including two landscapes with cows by American artist Samuel Gerry, from the same Connecticut estate are featured. Arguably the most important landscape street scene in the sale is of the Red Square in Moscow by Russian artists Leonid & Rimma Brailovsky . The collaborative painting depicts the colorful onion domes of Saint Basil's Cathedral and the famous Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin covered in snow. The work is from the same Connecticut estate as the other landscapes in the collection and should prove to be a popular work for late January.

A Dutch harbor scene by notable Austrian artist F. Wagner, and an Italian scene entitled "Mercato a Napoli / Vico Grotto e Victo Forno a San Lucia, also provide international depth to the array of fine art in the sale.

An important and monumental full length portrait believed to be Henry, Second Duke of Beaufort attributed to important artist Sir Godfrey Kneller and his studio is the highlight of the figural work selection. The massive scale of the work is both regal and impressive. Also from Great Britain is an oil on canvas landscape signed John Constable. Though the landscape is offered without authentication, the painting is undoubtedly a period work and should be seriously considered.

The portrait and figural will include additional selections by Paul Boudoin, a portrait of Katherine Powell by Robert Reid, and two female figural works by Pal Fried. Also not to be overlooked is a remarkable still life by Arbit Blatas with original AAA label verso.

Prints include works by Louis Lozowick, namely "Steel Valley," a Bernard Buffet pencil signed "La Petite Route" print, and a Phillip Hicken 1940 "East End" pencil signed and dated screenprint.

The in-house previews for the sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, January 24th and 25th from 12pm to 6pm EST. The full catalog is available 24/7 at www.clarkeny.com and is updated daily.

For information about any of the upcoming lots or to register for bidding in the sale, please contact the gallery directly at (914) 833-8336 or email [email protected].

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