Museum & Institutions Services
At Clars Auctions, we offer a full suite of auction services to support large and small institutions, including historical societies, universities, and art museums in the Bay Area and beyond. Whether buying or selling, our team provides expert museum appraisals, auction assistance, and personalized collection management strategies to meet your institution’s unique needs.
Assistance with Selling
Museums and institutions often look to optimize their collections by auctioning off select pieces, including art, antiques, and historical documents. Our museum auctions are designed to bring these items to the right audience, achieving optimal market value. From providing auction strategies to advising logistics, we help create a seamless auction process. Our specialists will offer personalized auction proposals, ensuring each item is marketed effectively to secure the best outcomes.
Assistance with Buying
When expanding collections, acquiring the right pieces can elevate an institution’s cultural and historical significance. Our team helps institutions navigate the auction process, offering expert insights and strategies to secure high-value items such as paintings, sculptures, and rare manuscripts.
Appraisals
We provide authoritative museum appraisals, including fair market appraisals for tax purposes compliant with IRS requirements, insurance valuations, and appraisals for charitable donations. These assessments meet the highest industry standards, helping institutions make informed decisions about acquisition, deaccession, or donation. Our team has expertise in 50+ categories and offers in-person and online appraisal services to meet each client’s specific needs.
Other Auction Services
In addition to museum auctions and institutional services, Clars Auctions offers a wide range of auction services designed to meet the needs of various clients. Whether working with individuals, estates, corporations, or fiduciaries, our expertise spans several categories, including:
- Trusts & Estates: Providing tailored estate auction services and trust appraisals for beneficiaries, executors, and fiduciaries.
About Us
Based in Oakland, California, Clars Auctions is a trusted auction house with decades of experience. We work with museums, institutions, businesses, and collectors across the Bay Area and globally to provide professional, seamless auction and appraisal services.