About Us

Clare Auction is a specialist auction house based in Clare, Suffolk. Since 2014, we’ve been selling jewellery, gold, precious metals, coins, antiques, and vintage collectables for private sellers, estate executors, and collectors across the UK.

We run regular live and timed online auctions from our saleroom at Clare Town Hall. Our sales attract buyers from around the world through online bidding platforms, which means your items reach far beyond the local market.

What Sets Us Apart

No seller commission. We charge a flat entry fee per lot, not a percentage of the sale price. This is unusual in the auction industry, and it means sellers keep significantly more of what their items achieve. When the hammer falls, the price is yours.

Specialist knowledge. We focus on what we know: jewellery, gold, coins, antiques, and vintage collectables. We don’t try to sell everything. We concentrate on categories where we can offer genuine expertise and attract serious buyers.

Honest and straightforward. We’ll tell you what your items are realistically worth. We won’t overvalue to win your business, and we won’t undervalue to make a quick sale. If something isn’t right for auction, we’ll say so.

Friendly and approachable. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or you’ve never set foot in an auction house, you’ll find us easy to deal with. We’ve built a reputation for being welcoming and good-humoured, and we intend to keep it.

The Team

Robin – Auctioneer & Valuer

Robin brings over 50 years of experience in the antiques trade to Clare Auction. He’s the one behind the rostrum at our live sales, and the person most likely to spot something valuable that others have overlooked. His depth of knowledge across jewellery, antiques, and collectables is the foundation of what we do.

Frank – Co-founder

Frank runs the business and technology side of Clare Auction. As Robin puts it, Frank wouldn’t know the difference between pork and porcelain, but he can drive a computer. That division of labour works: Robin knows the antiques trade inside out, and Frank makes sure the business, the website, and the operations run properly behind the scenes.

Vicki

Vicki works alongside Robin in the day-to-day running of the auction house. After years immersed in the trade, she’s developed a sharp eye of her own, and between her and Robin, very little gets past them.

The Wider Team

On sale days, the three of us are joined by a team of staff who help run the saleroom, handle lots, and look after buyers and sellers. Many of them have been with us for over ten years, and several have been part of Clare Auction since we started in 2014. Robin and Vicki’s children also work in the business from time to time.

It’s a small, close team, and that’s deliberate. When you deal with Clare Auction, you’ll speak to people who know the business and know your items, not a call centre.

Clare and Its Auction Tradition

The market town of Clare has a tradition of regular auctions that stretches back hundreds of years. For the last four decades, auctions in Clare have focused on antiques, collectables, and quality items. We’re proud to have continued that tradition since 2014, and to have grown it into something that reaches buyers and sellers well beyond Suffolk.

Our Saleroom

Our live sales are held at Clare Town Hall, right in the centre of town. It’s easy to find, with parking nearby and good access. If you’re coming to view lots before a sale, drop in for a valuation, or just want to see what an auction looks like before you commit, you’re welcome any time during opening hours.

Address: 4 Market Hill, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8NN

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8am to 3pm

Phone: 01787 827212

Email: [email protected]

Want to sell with us?

Visit our Sell With Us page to find out how it works, or call us on 01787 827212 for a free appraisal.