The Clark Family Treasures at Christie's Part 1

We are at Christie's auction house in Rockefeller Center for The Clark Family Treasures auction. I was able to view the items right before the sale on June 18, 2014. I have had a few posts on this story, and the last survivor of the Clark family, Huguette, HERE and HERE. It is an amazing story, one that makes me rather sad, to think of the life this very wealthy woman had until she died at 104. The whole story really makes me feel that money is not everything. 

a young Huguette and her father, Senator William Andrews Clark 

The detail on this set was really fabulous and kept going back to look at it a few times 

A LOUIS XV PORCELAIN-MOUNTED, PATINATED AND POLYCHROME-DECORATED VERNIS MARTIN, BRONZE AND ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK

THE FIGURES ATTRIBUTED TO MARTIN FRERES, THE MOVEMENT BY ETIENNE LE NOIR, CIRCA 1750

Estimate

$100,000 - $150,000

Price Realized 

$137,000.00

A PAIR OF LOUIS XV PORCELAIN-MOUNTED, PATINATED AND POLYCHROME-DECORATED VERNIS MARTIN, BRONZE AND ORMOLU TWIN LIGHT CANDELABRA

THE FIGURES ATTRIBUTED TO MARTIN FRERES, CIRCA 1750

Estimate

$60,000 - $90,000

Price Realized $245,000.00

ERARD 

A FORTY-SEVEN STRING DOUBLE ACTION CONCERT HARP, LOUIS XV STYLE, PARIS, CIRCA 1912-1915
Engraved on the action plate Erard 4738 and on the reverse Erard 13, Rue du Mail Paris. The body, with a fluted column terminating in a Nautilus scroll, and the arm are covered in a green finish and decorated with gilding. The horizontal grained soundboard is decorated in a polychrome floral motif and fit with ebony bridge pins with pearl eyes
72¼ in. (183.5 cm) high at the column, with a soft felt cover 

The estimate on this gorgeous harp was $3-5,000 dollars but it sold for $21,250.00

What amazing craftsmanship displayed here 

A bust of Senator Clark sold for $10,625.00 quite a bit more than the estimate below 

This amazing piece sold for $87,500.00, not quite double the estimate below  

You can click on these to enlarge for reading 

All of the items were in the most excellent condition, you wonder how often things were actually used by the Clark Family 

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, BOIS SATINE, SYCAMORE AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY AND PARQUETRY DRESSING TABLE

BY PATRICK AVRILLA, FRANCE, DATED 1992 
With three folding oval mirrors on foliate supports above a kidney-shaped top inlaid with a pastoral landscape, above three frieze drawers inlaid with further landscapes, on cabriole legs, with plaque inscribedD. 1992/Ebènisterie P. Avrilla/France
56½ in. (143.5 cm.) high, 49 in. (124.5 cm.) wide, 24 in. (61 cm.) deep 

The Estimate on this one was $8-12,000 but it only sold for $7,500.00 

Some items are sold with no reserve, while others need to meet the reserve or they are not purchased 

These were on top of the dressing table above, just beautiful and in such perfect condition 

AN AMERICAN SILVER AND ENAMEL DRESSING SET 

TIFFANY & CO., NEW YORK, 1917-47 
With enamel flowers in green, red and yellow, with yellow beaded surround, engraved AEC monogram, comprising:
A hand mirror
Three brushes, in sizes
Two glass bottles, with silver stoppers
A glass powder box and puff with silver covers
Two round boxes, in sizes
A shoe horn
A button hook
A nail file, each marked on body
23 oz. (715 gr.) weighable silver (12)

This estimate was $3-5,000 and it sold for $12,500.00

This desk was really beautiful and the gold work on it was amazing. The bottom right photo is actually the back of the desk! 

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, SYCAMORE AND STAINED FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY AND PARQUETRY BUREAU A CYLINDRE

BY PATRICK AVRILLA, FRANCE, DATED 1992

Pre-Lot Text

In the early 1990s, Huguette Clark commissioned copies of her mother Anna's bedroom furniture to install in her own apartment. The originals were carefully copied by skilled contemporary French ébénistes, who were able to match the materials, mimic the marquetry and capture the craftsmanship of the pieces made over 100 years before.

Estimate $8,000 - $12,000 and it sold for $10,000 US Dollars 

Gorgeous purses from the early to late 20th century. One of the folks working at Christie's said the paper was still inside some of them meaning they were never even used! 

This one was my favorite  

The book to the right and below, in fabulous condition, sold for $293,000 as the estimate was $80-$120,000.00 

BAUDELAIRE, CHARLES (1821-67). LES FLEURS DU MAL. PARIS: POULET-MALASSIS ET DE BROISE, 1857. 

Amazing to think this is from 1857 and it is in this kind of condition  

This was part of the set below and I just loved the bright blue 

A PAIR OF GEORGE III ALTERED SILVER COASTERS AND A CENTERPIECE

MARKED LONDON, 1814, POSSIBLY FOR WILLIAM ELLERBY

Estimate $1,500 - $2,000 Sold for $2,500.00

AN AMERICAN SILVER FIVE PIECE TEA SERVICE 

MARK OF GORHAM, CIRCA 1899 

Each marked 'Sterling', monogrammed WAC for William Andrews Clark and with wood handles comprising a hot water kettle on stand with burner, a teapot with hinged cover, a cream jug, a two handled sugar bowl and cover, and a waste bowl

Estimate was $3-5,000.00 and it sold for $4,750.00 

It was a really gorgeous tea set, but I wouldn't want to have to polish it ! 

 The book below, from Paris 1520, was really something to see in person. A border on a ground of liquid gold is my kind of book! Just amazing indeed!

A Book of Hours dating to the first quarter of the 16th century (estimate: $40,000-60,000) is an exceptional example of an illuminated manuscript on vellum. Every page of this manuscript has a full-page border on a ground of liquid gold, and each of the numerous devotions opens with a miniature painted in a vibrant and dramatic style. It is a particularly full Book of Hours in both text and illumination, and constitutes a telling demonstration of the cross-currents and common interests of those involved in the production of printed and manuscript books in Paris in the first decades of the 16th century.

I hope you enjoyed just a little glimpse into the lives of those from the gilded age. Part 2 will showcase some of the beautiful paintings that were also sold in this auction. You can view the whole catalog on Christie's site, HERE, and it tells you the estimates and actual prices of each item. Great for those history buffs!! 

Today's Words of Wisdom: "What is the chief end of man?--to get rich. In what way?--dishonestly if we can; honestly if we must." -- Mark Twain-1871

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Christie's Results of An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures Totals $8.5 Million US Dollars

RESULTS  .

AN AMERICAN DYNASTY: THE CLARK FAMILY TREASURES ACHIEVES $8.5 MILLION

BRINGING THE GRAND TOTAL ACHIEVED FOR THE ESTATE OF HUGUETTE M. CLARK AT CHRISTIE’S TO $70.2 MILLION

WORLD AUCTION RECORDS SET FOR WALT WHITMAN, LIONEL WALDEN, & FELIX LORIOUX

An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures

Total: $8,463,938/£4,993,723/€6,263,314

Top Lot: Lot 100 | John Singer Sargent, Girl Fishing, oil on canvas | Price realized $4,309,000

Andrew McVinish, Christie’s Head of Private and Iconic Collections, comments, “It has been a tremendous honor for Christie’s to present this esteemed collection to the global collecting community and we are pleased to have seen participation from bidders from 27 different countries.  The success of An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures cements the lasting legacy of Senator William Andrews Clark and his family as discerning collectors with an impeccable eye who were also tremendously important to the Industrial growth of our nation.  We saw strong prices across all collecting fields in the sale – from rare books and American paintings, to fine jade items and decorative furnishings – which led to a sell-through rate of 96% by lot and new world auction records for author Walt Whitman, artist Lionel Walden, and illustrator Felix Lorioux. Pieces with strong personal ties to the Clark family also performed beyond expectation.  The seventeen paintings by Huguette Clark herself achieved a combined total of $142,625 and were 100% sold, marking the first time her works have ever been sold at auction. 

One of Huguette Clark's paintings which I really just loved and sold for $8,750.00 US Dollars 

We are grateful to the administrators of her Estate for entrusting Christie’s with the opportunity to bring the Clark collection to the public eye.  This sale, combined with the May 2014 sale of Impressionist paintings and the April 2012 sale of Jewelry, brings the grand total sold by Christie’s on behalf of the Estate of Huguette M. Clark to $70.2 million.”

Christie’s was entrusted with the sale property from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark by the Honorable Ethel J. Griffin, New York County’s Public Administrator, who oversees the estate. Commissioner Griffin comments, "We are very pleased with the results Christie’s achieved today and earlier this spring for property from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark, which together have yielded a combined total of $49.4 million in sales. The proceeds from tonight's sale will benefit the Estate and its goal of establishing a charitable foundation devoted to arts and culture. Throughout the process, Christie's has helped pay tribute to the collecting legacy of Senator W.A. Clark and his family and reminded us all of this family’s important place in American culture and history.”

CHRISTIE’S SALES FROM THE ESTATE OF HUGUETTE M. CLARK

·   17 April 2012 – Property included in the Jewels sale achieved $20,849,250

·   6 May 2014 – Property included in the Impressionist & Modern Evening Sale achieved $40,927,000 (with Monet’s Nymphéas realizing $27,045,000)

·   18 June 2014 – An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures achieved $8,463,938

My fabulous up close photo of the John Singer Sargent painting which sold for a record $4,309,000.00 US Dollars 

I was thrilled to attend the viewing of the auctions for her jewels in 2012, and the Clark Family Estate this past weekend. I have been a long time fan of Christie's and am now thrilled to announce I am now press for the famous auction house. I will be having a more in-depth look at some of the fabulous items that were for sale with the Clark Family Estate, I always love to show you real photos of items as I think it just makes it much more cool ! The auction which took place yesterday, June 18th, took 7 hours! Please be sure to follow the blog for a more detailed post shortly. I was never a history buff in high school, but places like Christie's makes you want to learn more about the past. I find it much more interesting when I can actually look at items with my own eyes, and take in all it's glory. 

One more item has yet to be sold: 

On Friday June 6, Christie’s is pleased to announce bidding is now open for the Kreutzer Stradivarius violin from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark, the American copper mining heiress. This magnificent instrument, estimated at US $7.5 – 10 million, is being offered via a sealed bid auction timed to run in parallel to Christie’s saleroom auction of An American Dynasty: The Clark Family Treasures. For more information on the sealed bidding process for the Stradavari violin, visit www.christies.com/kreutzer.

The violin is among the star lots of the Clark family collection, which includes many items that were rediscovered in Ms. Clark’s vast Fifth Avenue apartment after her death at age 104 in 2011. Earlier this spring, Christie’s sold paintings by Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir from the family’s collection, fetching a combined total of $40.9 million. This month, Christie’s will offer the Stradavari violin via sealed bid from June 6 through June 12, and host a day-long auction of the family collection on June 18 at Rockefeller Center. Offerings include over 400 individual items of fine American and 19^th Century art, rare and first-edition books, Gilded Age furnishings, decorative arts and musical instruments collected by two generations of the Clark family, who were among the wealthiest of the nation’s families at the dawn of the Industrial Age. See the complete contents of the June 18 auction here.

Today's Words of Wisdom: Money cannot buy happiness 

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The Fascination of Huguette M. Clark

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of visiting Christie's in Rockefeller Center, to view the Estate of Huguette Clark, to be auctioned on April 17, 2012. From my first post HERE on May 25, 2011, after reading her obituary on the New York Times website, a fascination began. My next post about the sale of her jewels by Christie's is HERE if you wish to read it as well. I noticed in the cases where the jewels were kept, shot glass of water and contacted Christie's as to why that was needed. They so kindly told me it was to humidify air in the lighted cases. Pearls and Emeralds are more happy when that is used. Thank you Christie's!! I also had the pleasure of meeting the author, Meryl Gordon, who wrote a book about Brooke Astor, is currently working on a book about Huguette. We both spoke of what a story it is, and how sad of a life this woman seemed to have in her long 104 years. Thanks to Meryl, I was told photos were allowed, so you are going to see these jewel works of art from another place in time, below: 

A self portrait of Huguette, she had a talent for painting, no doubt  

These old photographs give a glimse into Huguette's family and life and were a wonderful treat to view with the vintage jewelry 

Huguette with her family  

Huguette circa 1920, Santa Barbara  

Some of the main pieces in the auction 

I loved loved this bracelet. It was just so amazing in person. The detail, the colors just took your breathe away. I stared at it for quite a long while. 

AN ART DECO DIAMOND AND MULTI-GEM CHARM BRACELET 

Designed as a platinum link bracelet, suspending ten multi-gem charms of various animal and figural motifs, with four additional charms, mounted in platinum, circa 1925, 6¾ ins.

Eight of the charms and clasp signed Cartier, clasp no. 3218160  

ESTIMATE $20,000 to $30,000 US DOLLARS 

 

I am quite a fan of Art Deco and this bracelet just blew my mind. These pieces represent some of the most fabulous jewelry from an era gone by but yet oh so popular in the present. 

AN ART DECO EMERALD AND DIAMOND BRACELET, BY CARTIER 

Designed as a series of three circular, square and baguette-cut diamond panels, each set at the center with three square-cut emeralds, spaced by circular and baguette-cut diamond oval-shaped links, mounted in platinum, circa 1925, 7 1/8 ins., in a Cartier red leather case

Signed Cartier 

ESTIMATED $50,000 to $70,000 US DOLLARS 

AN ART DECO DIAMOND BRACELET, BY CARTIER 

Designed as a series of rectangular-cut diamonds, each within a circular-cut diamond frame, spaced by baguette-cut diamond bar links, mounted in platinum, circa 1925, 6 7/8 ins., in a Cartier red leather case

Signed Cartier, no. 5720 (indistinct)

ESTIMATED $300,000 to $500,000 US DOLLARS 

This was beautiful, very big but yet simple design. When you have a stone like this, of this quality, you do not need much more design around it. I still preferred the pink one below, if I had a choice. 

A SUPERB DIAMOND RING, BY CARTIER 

Set with a rectangular-cut diamond, weighing approximately 19.86 carats, flanked on either side by a baguette-cut diamond, mounted in platinum, in a Cartier red leather box

Signed Cartier 

With report 2145467335 dated 15 February 2012 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is D color, VVS2 clarity; accompanied by a working diagram indicating that the clarity may be potentially internally flawless

ESTIMATED $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 US DOLLARS 

This ring was amazing in person. Not too big, color perfect pink, very simple. I could not stop looking at it and it was out of the case many times for folks to try on, possibly wanting to bid at the auction. 

A BELLE ÉPOQUE EXCEPTIONAL COLORED DIAMOND RING, BY DREICER & CO. 

Set with a modified cushion-cut fancy vivid purplish pink diamond, weighing approximately 9.00 carats, to the single-cut diamond prongs, gallery and shoulders, mounted in platinum, circa 1910

Signed D & Co. for Dreicer & Co 

With report 2145476525 dated 22 February 2012 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is fancy vivid purplish pink, natural color, SI1 clarity

ESTIMATE $6,000,000 to $8,000,000 US DOLLARS  

Inscribed as : To my darling mother With all my love Huguette 

Some of the fascinating facts about Huguette Marcelle Clark:

• A copper heiress who passed away at 104 in 2011 with a fortune of $400 million and no children 
• Owned 3 New York City Apartments on Fifth Avenue being sold for total of $55 million
• The apartments have been untouched in 100 years. The kitchen in one of them still had appliances from 1915 era. 
• A battle is underway for various pieces of her estate, her relatives that remain are 21 descendants of 3 of her half siblings.
• In 1929, she exhibited of her paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
• Her fast doll collection, said to be worth in the 3 million US dollar range, along with rare books, collection of musical instruments and artwork (the likes of Monet, Renoir, Sargent) are in the process of being removed from her 3 New York City Apartments.
• She purchased a 52 acre estate in Connecticut in 1951 but never moved in 
• Her only sister, Louise Amelia Andrée Clark (1902–1919), died of meningitis, which may have been part of her reason to be so reclusive 
• At the time of her birth, in 1906, her father was 67 and her mother was 28
• In 1907, the New York Times estimated her father's wealth at 150 million ( roughly 3 billion today) from investments in copper, railroads, real estate, lumber, banking, cattle, sugar beets and gold. 
• 907 Fifth Avenue apartment looks to have a signed contract for 24 million as of 04/15/2012
• Her father, William Andrews Clark, was born in 1839 to a threadbare Pennsylvania family 
• She lived the last decade or more of her life in hospitals, first at Doctor's Hospital and then at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan 
• Huguette M. Clark was entombed in the Clark family mausoleum at the Woodlawn Cemetary, Bronx, New York. Although she was raised Roman Catholic, there was no mass or priest. The only attendants were employees of the funeral home, the cemetery and the company that helped restore the mausoleum to make room for her. She was laid to rest beside her parents and her sister. 

Today's Words of Wisdom: Money Cannot Buy Happiness 

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