BERKELEY, Calif. (ACNI) - On Sunday, June 7, Clars Auction Gallery in the San Francisco East Bay city of Berkeley was buzzing. It's a casual environment where people walk around in shorts, holding coffees, but on that particular day there was a palpable tension in the gallery.

Bidders sat in Victorian chairs clustered around dining tables, or stood craning their necks towards the podium as auctioneer Redge Martin prepared to take bids on a rare 1948 Tucker automobile, estimated at $800,000-$1,000,000. The car was one of only 51 made, and the subject of a film released in 1988.

Earlier that morning, you could see collectors circling the big creamy car with all four doors open. A gray-haired man was over and under the car with a little flashlight. Another man, tall and wearing a black sport shirt printed with neon-colored vintage cars, surveyed the Tucker from a few feet away.

Now it was finally auction time, and after a steady uphill progression of bids, Redge Martin brought the gavel down to proclaim a Southern California collector in the room as the winner: the car sold for $765,000 (inclusive of special 2 percent buyer's premium).

It was not the first time Clars had sold an object in the six figures (see illustrations), but for a regional auction house in the middle of a crippling recession, the sale was an especially satisfying triumph. The price was said by a competitor to be comparable to that which could have been expected at a house specializing in motor cars. I spoke with Martin, a trim, elegant man with a ready smile and sharp eyes behind horn-rims, about the sale's results and the auction business in general.

June Auction Highlights - What Was Selling?

Martin said the Tucker had come from the estate of a San Francisco car collector named Bev Ferreira and was used in the film Tucker, The Man and His Dream. (The buyer is a collector who owns two other Tuckers.) Once it was consigned, Martin was able to take in several other cars including a 1981 De Lorean and a 1954 Corvette (neither of which sold), among other interesting cars.

The June auction had other strengths. A series of bisque dolls and Hummel figures opened the sale, nearly selling out. Throughout the weekend, attractive 19th- and 20th-century rugs were offered. A circa 1850 Ravar Kerman rug sold for its high estimate of $8,295 (all prices in this article include an 18.5 per cent buyer's premium except where otherwise noted).

A jewelry series included a 4-carat diamond and white gold ring that sold for $22,215. Another ring with a 4-carat diamond, this example in a platinum setting, realized $15,405.

A signed Lalique Perruches green glass vase reached $16,405; and an American embroidery and gouache picture inscribed 1809, Newburyport, Mass., sold for $2,123. A bronze by Charles-Arthur Bourgeois (French, 1838-1886) estimated at $12,000-16,000 sold for $9,523.

Among several lots of Civil War-related material was a group lot comprising a carved Civil War Confederate canteen "obtained from a rebel prisoner at Port Hudson, La.," and five sketches by Pierce. It sold for $7,110.

The auction was also highlighted by a large selection of Asian works of art, and by European and American furniture and decorative arts, and paintings.

The Auction Business - Taking its Pulse

"It seems things are turning up, that the market might be coming back," said Martin, who has been president of Clars since he bought the business from its founder Harvey Clar in 1996. Clars had a strong fiscal year in 2007/2008, with total sales of $9.5 million. Things changed dramatically in late 2008.

"Our business was down markedly," Martin said, attributing the decline to several factors. "It's partly due to the stasis in the real estate market here. Houses are not selling, so their contents are not being turned over. Also, sellers are holding on to things when they can, awaiting the market's return. Of course, money is tight with buyers, too, but it's the lack of consignments that really hurt us."

For Martin, eBay's decision last year to end its eBay Live Auctions services was also a blow, as 20 to 30 percent of Clars sales had come through the Web. Happily, Live Auctioneers was ready and able to pick up where eBay left off, and provides the Internet live bidding for all Clars sales.

"Our real strengths right now are in fine art and Asian items, although we have gotten strong prices in all categories, including furniture, jewelry, and collectibles, for top-quality items," said Martin. This September, in what is traditionally Clars' largest sale of the year, the auction will include property from The Estate of Merv Griffin. A John Gamble painting, illustrated here, also will be featured in that early fall sales.

To view Clars' sales calendar, log on to www.clars.com.

View Clars' archived catalogs and result online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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