Major Northern California Antique Collection Comes to the Block at Clars in February Clars January sale was the largest in terms of lots and second highest January auction in terms of gross sales. February & March will be highlighted by the estate of a major Sacrmento antique dealer.
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - Major Northern California Antique Collection Comes to the Block at Clars in February
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of America’s strongholds for Mid-century Modern furnishings and decorative arts, and Oakland’s Clars Auction Gallery has become known as the place where design gems appear from local estates. The January Premier sale was Clars’ largest ever in terms of lots and the firm’s second highest grossing January sale: over $580,000. The highlight of the sale was a groovy Danish Modern cabinet, 8 feet long, which was fitted with a Lansing/JBL speaker system with side horns. In 1960 when it was shown at the Stereo Hi Fi Show in San Francisco, it wore a $2,080 price tag and was touted as “the most expensive speaker system on the market.” Fast forward 46 years to Clars’ sale, in which six bidders pushed the lot to $16,800 (inclusive of 20 percent Internet buyer’s premium) against an $800-1,200 estimate. The winning bid came from an Internet buyer in Korea.
There were 5,000 attendees between the preview and auction for their January sale. Clars continues to obtain many desirable Northern California estates and their upcoming February 4th and 5th sale is no exception. The lifetime collection of one of Sacramento’s premier antique collectors, Norma Lovell, will go on the block in both their February and March sales with lots totaling over 1,000. The February sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 4th and 5th, the March sale will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 4th and 5th.
The Lovell legacy began in the 1950s with Norma’s mother, Verl Lovell, who was an avid collector of fine antique furniture and art. She opened her first antique store in Sacramento in the 50s and, in the 1970s, her daughter Norma Lovell, joined her in the business. Together they opened Lovell’s Antique Mall on “P Street” in the trendy district of Midtown Sacramento anchoring what was to become a desirable antiquing destination for antique and art enthusiasts and collectors. After almost 30 successful years in the business, Norma finally sold the business and the building in the late 90’s to build her dream house in the Gold Country. Her dream house, an estate really, is comprised of a 7,000 square foot home set on 5 acres. “I needed all 7,000 square feet to showcase my lifetime of collecting,” said Lovell.
Anyone who knows Norma Lovell knows her zest for life and new adventures. Her lifetime collection comes to the block at Clars as she is ready to downsize and sell her estate in preparation for her move to Southern California. The level of quality in the antiques to be offered is a definite reflection of Norma’s style and appreciation of the finer things in life.
Among the amazing lots from her collection to be offered in February are a pair of signed Galle’ chairs (photo 1), a set of 4 signed Galle’ nesting tables (photo 2) a signed Marjorells side table (photo 3) and a pair
