Auction Details
Van Eaton Galleries proudly presents The Bob Clampett Auction, an incredible two-day event featuring the collection of one of animation’s most influential artists! Over 950 lots are up for auction, including animation art from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies classics, original puppets from “Time for Beany,” Beany and Cecil merchandise, a Charlie McCarthy stop-motion armature, and even rare photos of Walt Disney.
Clampett created or refined Warner Bros.’ most beloved cartoon characters of all time: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Tweety Bird. He collaborated with famed author Edgar Rice Burroughs on a never-produced John Carter of Mars animated serial, art from which is included in this auction. A young Clampett even helped his aunt Charlotte Clark create the very first Mickey Mouse doll!
Many of the shorts Clampett directed are considered among the looniest and greatest ever, including “Porky in Wackyland,” “The Great Piggy Bank Robbery,” “Tortoise Wins by a Hare,” and the “Fantasia” spoof “A Corny Concerto.” He created the Emmy-winning puppet show “Time for Beany,” which counted Albert Einstein among its fans, and its animated successor “Beany and Cecil,” both rife with Clampett’s love of puns and topical humor.
Not only was Clampett a talented artist, he was a collector. Clampett preserved countless pieces of his own work and kept many of the books and artwork that inspired him as a child. We at Van Eaton Galleries consider ourselves lucky to be able to offer these treasures up for auction to the public.
All items are sold as is. Contact Van Eaton Galleries for condition reports and shipping information. 25% Buyer's Premium for all lots.
Please be aware there is a $5000 deposit required for any bidding over $50,000 that will be charged to the card on file. This deposit will be credited to your invoice or refunded after the auction.
Choose Your Layout >
221A Studio Gag Drawing by T. Hee.Van Eaton Galleries
(Hee, 1935) A studio gag drawing by T. Hee, expressing his and fellow animators’ fears of losing their jobs after the arrival of Frank Tashli
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to s*******e for 437.50
222A Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett Gag Drawing by Tex Avery.Van Eaton Galleries
(Avery, 1935) A studio gag drawing by Tex Avery featuring Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, and himself. Accomplished in graphite and colored pencil, and mea
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to m***c for 1,187.50
223A Caricature of Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett.Van Eaton Galleries
(Jones, 1936) A caricature by Chuck Jones of himself and Bob Clampett walking into the studio back-to-back (so no one could stab them in the back). Ev
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to floor for 950.00
225A Studio Gag Drawing by Bobo Cannon.Van Eaton Galleries
(Cannon, 1930s-40s) A studio gag drawing by animator Robert “Bobo” Cannon of Bob Clampett, Chuck Jones, and himself. Accomplished in
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to m***c for 250.00
226"An Then I Was Attacked by a Six Footer..." Drawing.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1930s) A gag drawing of animator Larry Martin drawn by Bob Clampett. Clampett used his caricatures of Martin as the basis for Dishonest Joh
Start Price : 200.00 | Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
230A Studio Christmas Party Gag Drawing.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1935-36) A Studio gag drawing of a gruesome Leon Schlesinger Productions Christmas party drawn by Bob Clampett. The crew is depicted releas
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to S********t for 531.25
232A Schlesinger Studio Penny Pitchin’ Group Photo.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1935) A photo of Bob Clampett far right with sunglasses) with a group of Leon Schlesinger Productions staff outside of the studio pitching
Estimate : 100.00 - 200.00
Sold to S********t for 375.00
233A Pair of "Pitching Pennies" Gag Drawings.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1930s) A pair of penny-pitching gag drawings by Bob Clampett. With image sizes ranging from 7” x 11.5” to 7.5” x
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to S********t for 250.00
234A Warner Artist’s View of Disney Artists Gag Drawing.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1937) A studio gag drawing by Bob Clampett of haggard versions of himself and Chuck Jones, compared to the sophisticated and polished artis
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to d********o.. for 312.50
235A Studio Gag Drawing of the New Ub Iwerks Unit.Van Eaton Galleries
(Clampett, 1937) A studio gag drawing by Bob Clampett of the newly formed Looney Tunes unit led by Ub Iwerks. Dated February 3, 1937, it depicts Produ
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to m***c for 406.25
236The Title Card for “Shake Your Powder Puff.”Van Eaton Galleries
(Schlesinger, 1934) The hand-painted title card for the Looney Tunes short “Shake Your Powder Puff.” Accomplished in cel paint on ca
Estimate : 2,000.00 - 4,000.00
Sold to m********e.. for 1,500.00
237A “Shake Your Powder Puff” Storyboard Drawing.Van Eaton Galleries
(Schlesinger, 1934) An original storyboard drawing from the Merrie Melodies short, “Shake Your Powder Puff.” Accomplished in graphit
Estimate : 200.00 - 400.00
Sold to u*****N for 406.25
239"The Little Dutch Plate" Title Cel and Background.Van Eaton Galleries
(Schlesinger, 1935) The title card painting for the Merrie Melodies short “The Little Dutch Plate.” The film elements for this short
Start Price : 2,000.00 | Estimate : 3,000.00 - 5,000.00
240A Page of "Little Dutch Plate" Storyboard Drawings.Van Eaton Galleries
(Schlesinger, 1935) A page of four storyboards for the Merrie Melodies short “Little Dutch Plate.” With an image size of 7.75
Estimate : 300.00 - 500.00
Sold to p********h.. for 281.25