Clars Auction Gallery got its start in the auction business in 1948 with Harvey Clar, an Oakland, California native who at 18 began conducting industrial auctions, including machine, woodworking and automobile dealer and repair shops. His skill and reputation grew over the next few decades as he conducted a wide variety of commercial and industrial auctions as well as the occasional estate auction. The demand for his services in evaluating and auctioning personal property, such as fine art, furniture and jewelry, continued to increase, and in 1972 Harvey Clar and his wife established their auction gallery in Oakland.

In 1996, Harvey Clar sold the estate auction gallery business to Oakland resident Redge Martin. Mr. Martin has a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. After graduate school, he worked for Ford Motor Company, Dole Foods, and Butterfield & Butterfield Auctioneers. Mr. Martin serves as CEO of the Gallery, as well as one of the main auctioneers and specialists. Under his stewardship, Clars Auction House has grown in reputation and prominence, and is considered the West Coast's premier auction house. It works with buyers and sellers throughout the world. In mid-2004, the gallery began offering simultaneous internet bidding on many of its lots.

Clars L.A. is a partner auction house of Clars Auction Gallery’s. All Clars Los Angeles auctions and sales are conducted and fulfilled by Clars L.A.