Clars Auction Gallery concluded their 2013-2014 fiscal year with their September 2014 Fine Art, Decoratives, Jewelry and Asian Art Sale. At the close of that sale, it was clear that the firm had reached a new-record level of $21 million in sales for the year. The Oakland-based auction house reported a robust increase of 57% over their previous fiscal year, the largest year-over-year increase in the firm’s history. Clars hosts a three-day sale each month that features an average of 2,000 lots. The average price achieved per lot for this fiscal year was $1,100 versus the $750 per lot average for the previous fiscal year. In addition, they handled the important Gerber Estate from Reno, Nevada which so far has sold more than four million dollars of property, the largest single estate in the company’s history.

According to Redge Martin, President of Clars “The global reach of our marketing is core to our clients and consignors success. By broadening our global market with a presence on three live auction bidding platforms, we are able to attract a record numbers of new buyers, a key element in the success of our sales, which parlays into attracting high-level estates and consignments from around the world.  Each month, we continued to see a significant surge of interest across all geographies solidly turning us from a regional auction house to a global force. In our September sale alone, buyers form more than 60 countries signed up to bid.”

The Categories | Statistics | Top Lots

Clars has four departments within the firm to knowledgeably serve each estate and individual consignor. Each of these four departments, Fine Art, Furniture and Decorative Arts, Asian Art and Antiques and Jewelry, experienced significant increases over the previous fiscal year.

Fine Art –

Fine Art sales accounted for 28% of total sales for $5.8M, a 39% increase over fiscal year 2012/13. The Fine Art Department is lead by Rick Unruh, Vice President and Director of Fine Arts. Under Unruh’s leadership and his team of specialists, the Fine Art collections and individual consignments garnered by the department have increased to expand across not only the U.S. but from around the world. Clars handled the sale of the Ruttenberg Collection of Chicago (IL) of prints and photographs which earned over $600,000. In addition, Clars has played an important role handling deaccessions for many museums and institutions, including the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Montclair (New Jersey) Art Museum.

TOP FIVE FINE ART LOTS SOLD FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014

November 10, 2013          $154,700                       Eugène de Blaas, The Proposal

February 15, 2014             $130,900                      Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, "Possum Dreaming," 1994

September 13, 2014          $56,500                        Leonor Fini, Dialogue Impossible

May 17, 2014                     $53,600         Friedel Dzubas, “Dark Barrier”

February 15, 2014             $47,600                George Rodrigue, The Blue Dog, 1991

Furniture & Decorative Arts –

Furniture & Decorative Arts accounted for 27% of total sale for $5.5M, 15% increase over fiscal year 2012/13. Furnishings and Decorative Arts is lead by Deric Torres, Vice President and Director of Decorative Arts & Furnishings. Throughout the past year, Torres and his staff of specialists have targeted and successfully won important estates and collections which have both domestic and international appeal.

TOP FIVE FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS LOTS SOLD FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014

February 15, 2014            $95,200                 2001 Ferrari 360 Modena Spider

May 17, 2014                    $65,500                      1954 Chevrolet Corvette

September 13, 2014          $56,500                        Tiffany Studios 1910 Venetian Desk Lamp

July 13, 2014                     $47,600                     Pair of Aboriginal Australian Shields

 September 13, 2014          $40,460                Three Silas Seandel cocktail tables

Asian Art & Antiques –

Accounted for 33% of total sales for $6.9M, a 136% increase over fiscal year 2012/13. The Asian Art and Antiques Department is headed by Vice President and Director, Joyce Kwong. The astounding 136% increase in Asian sales for this fiscal year was driven by the increasing power of the Chinese and Asian global market and Clars’ penetration into that market.

TOP FIVE ASIAN ANTIQUES & ART LOTS SOLD FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014

March 15, 2014                 $309,400                             Chinese Huanghuali Compound Cabinets

March 15, 2014                 $190,400                             Set of Chinese Huanghuali Table and Stools

February 15, 2014             $178,500                             Chinese Huanghuali Table and Chairs

March 15, 2015                 $166,600                             Two Chinese Haunghuali Cabinets

June 14, 2014                    $142,800                             Five Chinese Hardwood/Huanghuali Chairs

Jewelry & Timepieces –

Jewelry accounted for 12% of total sales for $2.5M, a 53% increase over fiscal year 2012/13. Clars has always been renowned for its exceptional fine and estate jewelry. Headed by Vice President and Director Gary Crispino, the Jewelry Department’s 53% increase over last fiscal year is remarkable as the number of lots did not increase significantly, but the strength and market penetration did.

TOP FIVE JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES LOTS SOLD FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014

May 17, 2014                     $142,800                   Brownish pink diamond and platinum ring

May 17, 2014                     $38,700                Jadeite, sapphire, diamond and platinum ring

November 10, 2013                     $28,600                Fancy brown yellow diamond ring

June 14, 2014                             $28,600                Fine jadeite and platinum ring

December 7, 2013                        $27,400                Art Deco diamond platinum bracelet

New World/U.S. Auction Records

Over the course of fiscal year 2013/2014 the year, Clars set multiple new World/U.S. auction records. Among them were:

1.       Moorcroft for Shreve: (October 2013) Record sale price of $31,130 set on a circa 1905 silver laid loving cup.

2.       “Cell Block,” (January 2014) photograph by Danny Lyon. New record price of $3,867. (From the Ruttenberg Collection of Chicago)

3.       “Aquarium Block,” an Alfredo Barbini for Pauly Murano art glass design (January 2014). New record price of $11,900

4.       “Possum Dreaming,” painting by Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri (February 2104). New record U.S. price of $131,000.

5.       Hugh McConnel and Frederick Adolph Will Gold Rush Faro dealing box (March 2014). New record price of $20,230.

6.       “The Soul Saver,” oil on canvas by Clyde Frederick Kelly (June 2014). New record price of $5,355.

7.       Koran pierced brass box in the Safavid style. (June 2014) New record price of $5,000.

8.       “Madame Derriere,” oil on board by Douglas Hoffman. (July 2014) New record price of $11,900.

9.       “California Foothill,” oil on canvas by Tarmo Pasto (July 2014). New record price of $2,300.

10.    Cocktail table by Silas Seandel. New record price of $26,000. (September 2014)

11.    “Nine Metalic Moulds,” etching by Marcel Duchamp. New record price of $19,000 (March 2014)

12.    “Pie Cut, 1964” a woodcut by Wayne Thiebaud, achieved a new record price of $19,000 for this rare print. (September 2014)

Looking Ahead to 2014/2015

President Redge Martin said, “In summary, the key to our record-breaking year has been successfully attracting a top-level professional staff, who were able to generate interest in Clars’ auctions from a substantial level of buyers. This, in turn, has directly resulted in winning top estates, important collections and individual consignments. We are, as a company, dedicated to providing the most successful sales experience for each of our consignors and, to that end, have invested substantially in our global marketing as well as the whole new world of Social Media Marketing while continuing to maintain what are now considered ‘traditional’ marketing strategies.”

Clars will kick-off their 2014-2015 fiscal year on Saturday, Sunday and MondayOctober 11-13, 2014 with their three-day Fine Art, Decoratives, Asian Art and Jewelry Auction.

Bidding for Clars’ auctions is available in person, by phone, absentee and live online at www.clars.com, and through www.liveauctioneers.com,  www.The-Saleroom.com and www.Invaluable.com.  Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609.

All prices reported here include 19% buyer’s premium.