HONOLULU — Oahu Auctions announced that an estate auction is scheduled for Saturday, May 24th (10:00am) at 3860 Old Pali Road, a sprawling 20-bedroom estate listed in the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places as the Clarence H. Cooke Residence (also known as the Marks Estate).
Featuring a global array of antique furnishings, décor, vintage Hawaiiana, framed artwork, dining room set, multiple bedroom sets, display cabinets, chairs, lamps, rugs, large gilt mirrors, vases, trays, pottery, sofas, flat screen TVs, Wolf Sub Zero freezers, refrigerators and other appliances, glassware, kitchenware/cookware, outdoor furniture, lawn equipment, assorted scaffolding, lumber, power tools… and much more! Standouts include a pair of framed 10-foot red brocade silk wall hangings, a vintage popcorn machine, an imported 30-foot pagoda, original Casay paintings, a round mango wood table and other furniture pieces custom made for hair-care mogul, Paul Mitchell, dishes that once belonged to Steven Spielberg. Hundreds of items will be sold.
A lifelong collector, Douglas Himmelfarb, current resident of the Nuuanu estate, amassed most of the artwork and furniture pieces through inheritance, various estate auctions and antique shops throughout the United States. A media sensation of late, Himmelfarb is the owner of a much-deliberated piece that has a number of renowned art industry experts convinced that it’s a genuine Rothko. The Wall Street Journal (April 24, 2014) details Himmelfarb’s 27-year quest to authenticate this piece. https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303626804579509593850415408
Himmelfarb purchased this seminal piece for $319 in 1987. It is anticipated to fetch $20 to $40 million in today’s market if authenticated. An original black and white photograph of the painting, newly uncovered in the artist’s personal file, lends further credibility to his case. This piece will not be included in the auction but expect a medley of Himmelfarb’s other extraordinary finds. “Many of these pieces have yet to be researched and could well be potential contenders for Antiques Roadshow,” says Himmelfarb.
Auction items may be previewed at oahuauctions.com and onsite from 9:00am on May 24. Free entry and open to the public. Limited driveway parking. Street parking and offsite parking available. Oahu Auctions was the company that auctioned off items from Japanese billionaire, Genshiro Kawamoto’s former Kahala properties in November of 2013.