McClain’s Ultimate Attic

Artwork of questionable authenticity

Great to have an auction house here in Honolulu but boy their communication skills are zero. Try to send an email or call and there is no response. its not hard.

I attended the McClain Auction on 1−24−15 and had a great time. I like to sit up front and have been quite impressed with the woman who runs the auction — her humor, her banter and her stamina. Impressive to be able to keep the show going for up to 4 or more hours, sustaining on only licorice to keep things going. Impressive!
I remember going to their auctions when they had their place on King Street in Chinatown. I have bought many pieces and they actually even sold a piece for me once. Good people, good business.
I liked that, unlike other auction houses, they have no upset price. An upset price is defined as «The dollar amount below which property, either real or personal, that is scheduled for sale at an auction is not to be sold. An upset price is intended as a minimum price. In a decree for a Judicial Sale, it constitutes a direction to the officer conducting the sale not to accept any bid that falls below the fixed price.» More about this later.
As a child I used to go to farm auctions and estate auctions. I loved the energy, the excitement and the interaction among the people. When I was older, I worked at state fairs and got to know the carnies who traveled the circuit. Being young and naïve, they quickly taught me some of the rules of the con. Later I learned of the shills at the auctions who began the bidding at a certain price, since the advertising said that everything would be sold. But you cannot do that on an island where the regulars will recognize you. Bargaining is a way to connect with people and to see who they are. Societies that employ bargaining have a greater level of interaction, versus our fixed price society where we can check out of store without even talking to another person.
My favorite McClain auctions have been the ones where inventory from the Honolulu Museum is being sold. I went several years ago when the Twiggs were there and saw them buying back some of their pieces that were not getting a price they could live with. Good memories.
Today was different. The woman began by disclosing that she would not be «dumping» any items and thus could refuse any bid. Yes, there was no upset price but any bid could be refused. Seemed odd.
I have learned to stay to the end and see what things will go for. At their auction in November, she was even so kind as to do a second auction of the items that had not been bid on for a small group of us who stayed around. Delightful.
Today I bid $ 100 on a Burmese jade carved sculpture. Yes, I am sure it is worth more. But this is an auction with no upset price. Instead my bid was declined and the item was not sold. I was caught off guard. Just like when I was a child and the carnies told me about the three milk bottles having different weights so that it was virtually impossible to knock them over with a single softball. And yet this is the very energy that I love the most. The con, the deception, the illusion.
So I bid on a few more items and paid my bill. It was explained to me that they had the right to refuse any bid, as they had clearly stated at the outset, the first time I ever remember hearing this. I got the game. No upset prices, no fixed prices, but if you make an offer that we don’t like, we can just refuse it. Wonderful.
I knew that I had lost, the game was fixed. But still I waited to speak with her after the auction, to ask her the difference between a refused bid and an upset price. I wondered what she would do. She explained that she had explained it and saw no contradiction. I view it as an integrity issue. Clinton did not have sex with Monica. They do not have any upset price, we just won’t accept bids that are below our minimum bid.
I really love this. It is like listening to a priest, a politician or a circus carnie.

What an incredible adventure I had no idea these kinds of artifacts and treasures were for sale on the island. The staff is awesome and they are all volunteers. I’m looking forward to another on March 1^st at Gentry Design Center.

Went to my first auction. Unbelievable. McClain’s will be having another one in Sept in the Gentry Pacific Center in Sept and then will be relocating due to change in ownership of the Center. Check it out, great finds.