Barr was originally an oil man and real estate developer, but he became heavily involved in the horse racing industry. He was a prominent breeder who had several winning horses.

Fullerton, CA, USA, February 22, 2023 -- An amazing collection of horse-related items and other objects from the estate of John Barr, who was heavily involved in the horse racing industry over the last half a century, will come for bid in a live online auction scheduled for Sunday, February 26th, by Golden Sun Auctions, Inc. (formerly Appraisal & Estate Sale Specialists), at 3 pm Pacific time.

Mr. Barr was the owner of Oakcrest Stables, the former director of Oak Tree Racing Association and president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He was originally an oil man and real estate developer, but later became a prominent breeder who had several winning race horses. Some of his trophies will come up for bid in the auction.

His love of horses is evident in the collection, which ranges from Lladro to Tiffany and everything in between. The Barrs loved art, whether it was displayed on shelves or hung on a wall, like an original LeRoy Neiman jockey painting from 1965. The 11 inch by 17 inch (framed size) expressionist painting is artist signed. It should fetch $2,000-$20,000.

Mr. Barr’s wife shared her love of horses with a fine selection of jewelry, some featuring horses and others, just beautiful, including a spectacular 1.8-carat diamond ring set in 18kt gold and platinum appraised for almost $40,000 in 2004 (est. $4,000-$20,000); and a 14kt gold, sapphire and diamond ring with six deep blue sapphires (est. $5,000-$10,000).

Even some of the jewelry pieces are equestrian-themed, like the darling 18kt yellow gold horse brooch encrusted in diamonds weighing 2.25 carats, plus an emerald for an eye (est. $1,000-$2,000); and a pair of earrings that are 1.04-carat diamond studs, the diamonds cut into horse heads, stamped on the backs 14kt with a designer mark (est. $400-$800).

What could end up being the action’s top lot is a lovely antique oil on canvas painting titled Young Girl, done in the manner of the British painter Arthur William Devis (1763-1822). The 30 inch by 35 inch work has a plaque giving the title and stating that the artist is Arthur Devis. It was obtained from a New York socialite (est. $1,000-$50,000).

A wonderful painting from William Robinson Leigh (N.Y., 1866-1955), featuring a cowboy wrangling a steer, signed, unframed and 18 inches by 22 inches, has an estimate of $500-$10,000. Also, an oil on canvas by the New Zealand impressionist artist Peter Williams (1934-2018), titled Breeding Barn – Greentree Stud Farm, Kentucky (1984), purchased at The Racing Scene Gallery and nicely framed, should reach $200-$1,200.

An amazing sculpture from artist Frederick E. Hart (1943-1999), titled The Ride, #330 of 350, 16 inches tall, depicting a woman on horseback and etched with Hart’s signature on bottom and dated 1990, is estimated to finish at $500-$1,500; while a stunning Lladro horse grouping sculpture titled Born Free, No. 1420, originally produced in 1982 and still in production today, 15 inches tall and in perfect condition, should make $200-$1,000.

A Kirk Stieff sterling silver trophy for Bountiful Dreamer (owned by John Barr), winner of the California Cup Distaff horse race held on Oct. 31, 1998, 10 inches tall, weighing 940 grams, is expected to command $600-$1,000. Also, a remarkable metal table created by the visual artist Elizabeth Maria Becker (b. 1942) of Taos, New Mexico, showing an abstract horse with a landscape background, with a rustic finish, should hit $200-$1,000.

Barr and his wife were avid travelers and picked up a wonderful assortment of horse and non-horse related decorative pieces, including some terrific vintage and antique items from various countries, including Japan, China and more, which they were able to get shipped back to the US for free. Some of the pieces date as far back as the 11th century.

Just a few of the Asian items in the auction are as follows:

- A canvas on artist board by the contemporary Chinese artis Gao Xiaohua (b. 1955), titled on verso Portrait of Li Tribe Woman, featured at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts in 1987, in a 19 ½ inch by 23 ½ inch frame (est. $1,000-$7,000).

- A carved Arhat Shoushan stone figure from the Fujian province of China, 13 inches tall, the figure draped in a robe with a bead necklace, his hands resting in his lap and books by his side, the artist’s signature on back (est. $2,000-$4,000).

- A circa 11th-13th century sandstone Buddha bust from the Baphuon Period in Cambodia, 13 inches tall. The face is shown looking down, with a subtle smile, comes with a custom stand and a purchase receipt from 1992 (est. $100-$4,000).

- A large circa 19th century Chinese soapstone carving with a carved poem, 18 inches tall, the stone pale celadon tone with iron red blended passages, carved as a hatted scholar, a fisherman sheltering in a cave with stalactites (est. 200-$800).

Speaking of Asian pieces, the auction will also feature items from an avid collector, including porcelains, wood and jade carvings from the Han Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Guangxu of the Qing dynasty, a wonderful assortment of fine jewelry, and pieces from a Japanese designer shop near downtown Los Angeles that closed down in the early 1970s.

Internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com. There will be no phone bidding. A live preview will be held on Friday, February 24th, from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm; no appointment is necessary. The gallery is located at 720 East Walnut Avenue #B in Fullerton, Calif., zip 92831.

To learn more about Golden Sun Auctions and the February 26th auction of the John Barr collection, please log on to https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/278272_fine-jewelry-horse-asian-antiques-artwork

About Golden Sun Auctions, Inc.:
Golden Sun Auctions, Inc. is a full-service appraisal, auction and estate sale firm, specializing in fine art, Hollywood memorabilia, antique and period jewelry, coins, vintage collectible cars, fine watches, designer clothes and accessories, musical instruments, dolls, old toys and more. Dan Wilson and Suki Hilger are Certified Personal Property Appraisers and Certified Gemologists. Golden Sun Auctions, Inc. is always seeking quality consignments for future sales. To inquire about consigning a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call Dan Wilson or Suki Hilger at 714-916-8119; or, you can email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more about Golden Sun Auctions, log on to https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/278272_fine-jewelry-horse-asian-antiques-artwork/.

Atlanta, GA, USA, February 9, 2023 -- Vibrant Native American-themed paintings by Frank McCarthy (1944-2002) and Emmi Whitehorse (b. 1956) are expected headliners in Ahlers & Ogletree’s Art of the American West & Native American Art & Objects auction on Friday, February 24th, in Ahlers & Ogletree’s new location on Atlanta’s Upper West Side, at 1788 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard.

The auction, beginning at 10 am Eastern time, will also be held online and will feature 255 lots, to include fine art of the American West and Native American objects, including pottery, fine art and rugs. Artists in the sale, in addition to McCarthy and Whitehorse, will include R. Farrington Ewell, Joe Beeler, Walt Gonske, Curt Walters, Alan Houser, Clyde Aspevig and Dan Namingha.

The oil on canvas by Frank McCarthy, titled The Warriors of Canyon Land (1988) depicts a vertical landscape of tall cliffs against a dark sky and two Native Americans on horseback in the foreground. The work, 40 ¼ inches by 24 inches (less frame) is signed and dated lower left and has an estimate of $15,000-$20,000. McCarthy is a member of the Cowboy Artists of America.

The mixed media on paper laid on canvas by Emmi Whitehorse is titled Field of Birds (1992) and shows an abstract Native American imagery of birds in a field. The work is monumental, with a canvas size of 51 ¼ inches by 78 inches, and is signed, dated and titled en verso. It’s accompanied by a gallery receipt from 1992 and two artist’s pamphlets (est. $10,000-$20,000).

An oil on canvas painting the Reverend Thomas E. Mails (American, 1920-2001), titled Hualapi Country (1983), a Western scene depicting a mountainous landscape with two Native American females gathering crops, overall 48 inches by 67 ½ inches, signed, should realize $6,000-$8,000.

An oil on canvas by Walt Gonske (New Mexico., b. 1942), titled On the Rio Pueblo, is a winter river landscape scene signed lower right and signed, titled and numbered (1765T) en verso. The 36 ¼ inch by 30 inch (canvas, less frame) work is expected to change hands for $4,000-$6,000.

There are several artworks by Allan Capron (Haozous) Houser (American/Chiricahua, Apache, 1914-1994) in the auction, including a 1992 patinated cast bronze Western sculpture, 12 ¾ inches tall, titled Peace Prayer (or The Offering), of a kneeling Native American male holding aloft a ceremonial pipe. The sculpture, signed and numbered (24/30) should hit $6,000-$8,000.

Also from Houser is a gouache and mixed media on paper from 1938, double-titled Apache Buffalo Hunt and Two Riders on Horseback Hunting, depicting two mounted warriors chasing a buffalo with arrows, signed and dated and in a 19 ¾ inch by 29 inch frame (est. $3,000-$5,000).

A patinated bronze sculpture by Robert Farrington Elwell (American, 1874-1962), 11 inches tall, titled Birchbark Canoe, depicting a Native male in a canoe on a choppy body of water with an applied verdigris finish, is signed in mold lower left, with a foundry mark (est. $5,000-$7,000).

An undated, large scale patinated cast bronze sculpture by Joe Neil Beeler (American, 1931-2006), is titled Apache Telegraph, of a Native American male with his horse, holding aloft a rifle on a rocky outcropping, 27 ½ inches tall, signed and numbered (28/30) (est. $4,000-$6,000).

A handwoven wool Navajo Klagetoh rug made by Eva Marie Begay (American/Navajo, active in the late 20th/early 21st century), 11 feet by 5 feet 9 inches and having three tan, grey, black and red diamonds framed by a stylized floral border, on a grey ground, should rise to $4,000-$6,000.

A hand-painted terra cotta discoid form vase (pot) with ‘Whirling Rainbow Goddess of Window Chant’ decoration, by Lucy Leuppe McKelvey (Navajo, b. 1950), 17 inches in diameter, depicted as swirled bands of geometric and figural motifs, signed and titled, should reach $1,000-$2,000.

A sterling and leather concho belt by Phillip Sekaquaptewa (American/ Hopi 1948-2003), titled Hopi Migration Story, having ten rectangular sterling conchos with rounded corners decorated with pictorial overlay depicting the Hopi migration story, all attached to a wide leather belt band, marked sterling and framed in a shadowbox, should hit $1,500-$3,000.

An acrylic on canvas colorblock painting by Dan Namingha (American/Hopi, b. 1950), titled Morning Light (2002), depicting a landscape at dawn, signed lower right and titled and dated en verso, unframed, 24 inches by 20 inches, has an estimate of $1,000-$2,000.

An American antique percussion Indian Trade Kentucky long rifle, circa 1800, having an octagonal 37 ¾ inch barrel, tiger maple half stock, double set triggers, brass furniture, coin silver accents or inlay, gilt retaining spring, brass tacks, wooden ramrod and check rest, apparently unmarked, overall 53 ½ inches long, is expected to ring up $800-$1,600.

Internet bidding will be available on Ahlers & Ogletree’s popular online bidding platform, bid.AandOAuctions.com, plus LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com.

Phone and absentee bids will also be taken. Live, in-person previews will be held Monday, February 20th, thru Thursday, February 23rd, from 10-5 Eastern time, in the Ahlers & Ogletree Atlanta gallery at 1788 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard. No appointment is required. Virtual appointments are also available. To schedule a virtual appointment, please call 404-869-2478.

To learn more about Ahlers & Ogletree and the Art of the American West & Native American Art & Objects auction on Friday, Feb. 24th, visit www.aandoauctions.com. Updates posted often. You can follow Ahlers & Ogletree via social media on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook.

Oslo, Norway and Kansas City, MO, February 3, 2023 -- According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s World Happiness Report, Finland (#1), Denmark (#2) and Sweden (#9) and all rank higher than Norway (#10). With GreenEarth Cleaning solutions and processes now being utilized at Mrs. Hang’s Tailoring & Cleaners (Fru Hang’s Skredderi & Renseri) in Oslo, Norway, it’s conceivable Norway could move up in the rankings and be an even happier place.

Why? GreenEarth is the world’s largest brand of environmentally friendly dry cleaning, offering the industry’s only non-toxic cleaning alternative. Using the GreenEarth cleaning process and solutions eliminates that dry cleaning smell and is gentler on the fibers. That lengthens the life of the clothes and they look and feel better.

“That certainly will make customers happy as well as all Norwegians who care about reducing their carbon footprint,” said Tim Maxwell, president of GreenEarth Cleaning. “We commend Fru Hang’s Owner, Thomas Tran, for doing the research and being the first cleaner to bring GreenEarth to Norway.”

Tran learned of GreenEarth Cleaning while researching environmentally friendly laundry solutions for his business. Since there are no other cleaners or businesses in Norway currently using GreenEarth, he traveled to the U.S. to learn firsthand.

“I spoke with a number of cleaners who use GreenEarth as well as meeting with Tim and the team at GreenEarth and I liked what I heard in terms of how GreenEarth cleans clothes, no hazardous waste in the cleaning process and its energy efficiency. When I learned I could switch over to GreenEarth by updating my equipment rather than purchasing new equipment, it was a fairly easy decision,” said Tran.

GreenEarth Cleaning was formed almost 25 years ago by founders General Electric, Procter & Gamble and three dry cleaners, Jim Barry, Ron Benjamin, and Jim Douglas, who sought to improve the industry by providing a safe and non-toxic alternative to perc, the predominant solvent in use at the time. Since 1999, GreenEarth Cleaning has provided an environmentally non-toxic technology to thousands of dry cleaners around the globe who in turn have cleaned some 600 million pounds of clothes during that time.

“Our sustainable technology enables GreenEarth cleaners to use less energy and less chemicals, saving them money and being better for the environment. Since the pure fluid we use is silicon-based and not the chlorine-based chemicals traditionally used in dry cleaning, the cleaning process is proven to be environmentally non-toxic, allowing GreenEarth’s customers to reduce or even eliminate hazardous waste fees,” said Maxwell. “That’s why the technology has been widely embraced by not only dry cleaners, but by the real estate, financial, insurance, garment manufacturing, and retail sectors as well.

For information about Fru Hang, visit https://www.fruhang.no/. For more information on GreenEarth Cleaning, visit https://www.greenearthcleaning.com

About GreenEarth Cleaning:
"Doing business without doing harm" has been the mission statement of GreenEarth since its birth in 1999. Utilizing a proprietary product line of pure silicone and unique "cold" filtration media, the Kansas City, MO-based GreenEarth provides its proprietors the best possible fabric care while lowering energy costs by more than 50 percent. Since the pure fluid GreenEarth uses is silicon-based and not the chlorine-based chemicals traditionally used in dry cleaning, the cleaning process is proven to be environmentally non-toxic, allowing GreenEarth’s customers to reduce or even eliminate hazardous waste fees. Leading dry cleaners, property owners, fashion brands, and financial institutions recognize GreenEarth as the clear leader in meeting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. For more information, visit https://www.greenearthcleaning.com