Bonhams
Bonhams is an auction house with headquarters in the UK. It operates two London salerooms as well as others in Edinburgh, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
In 2000, Bonhams was merged with Brooks, a specialist Classic Car auctioneer, and Phillips Son & Neale not long after. US auctioneers Butterfields joined the group in 2002.
In September 2018, chairman Robert Brooks stepped down after selling the company to private equity group Epiris. In 2022, the firm went on a buying spree purchasing US auction house Skinner, Swedish saleroom Bukowskis, Danish saleroom Bruun Rasmussen and then French outfit Cornette de Saint Cyr.
The Brunel family tunnel vision
11 December 2017An extraordinary family archive of engineering and architectural drawings and designs for the projects of Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849), offered in 14 lots, sold for a total of £224,500 in a Bonhams (25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) sale of November 15.
Former Bonhams employees team up to open new dealership in 16th century Scottish house
28 November 2017Two former members of auction house Bonhams have teamed up to open a new dealership in Dumfriesshire.
Previews: £30,000 plus
27 November 2017A December 7 sale of European ceramics at Bonhams will incorporate 130 pieces of Neapolitan porcelain from a single private source.
First edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone inscribed by JK Rowling sets £85,000 auction record
23 November 2017Probably best kept out of the hands of children unless, like the member of Bonhams' staff seen here, they are wearing white gloves, inscribed firsts of ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ are getting seriously expensive.
Digital ‘blue box’ designed by Apple founder Steve Wozniak at Bonhams New York
20 November 2017"If it hadn't been for the Blue Boxes, there would have been no Apple. I'm 100% sure of that." So said Steve Jobs of the electronic devices that simulate operators by generating the tones used by a telephone operator’s dialling console, and were typically used from the 1950s by so-called ‘phone phreakers’ to avail themselves of free calls.
Marine market shows buoyancy in London sale
20 November 2017For many years, marine art sales were used by the big auction houses to tap into the wealth of the world’s yachting and sailing community.
Bonhams sits comfortably in Asian art auction series
13 November 2017Bonhams capitalised on the strong market for classical Chinese furniture to set the two highest prices of the London Asian art auction series.
They think it's all over: football 1966 World Cup commentator's RAF medals up at auction
11 November 2017“They think it’s all over… it is now!” were the perfectly timed words uttered by TV commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme as England won the 1966 World Cup. Much less well known is that Wolstenholme (1920-2002) had a highly distinguished RAF service record in the Second World War.
And the winner is… find out who won the awards at ‘Asian Art in London’
10 November 2017Two works of art, both fashioned from lacquer but very different in execution, scooped the 2017 ‘Asian Art in London’ awards for dealers and auctioneers.
Spains Hall sofa sold for £140,000 at Bonhams
06 November 2017Bonhams’ Important Design sale in Bond Street on October 25 included this George III mahogany hall settee in the manner of William and John Linnell. Estimated at £8000- 12,000, it sold at £140,000 (plus premium), writes Roland Arkell.
Pick of the Week: Nelson’s chair of command
30 October 2017The large pockets once inserted at the side of this leather armchair – now sealed up – give a clue to the role of the famous person who once sat on it. The chair’s nickname of ‘The Emma’ is another big hint.
Double portrait has Masses appeal
30 October 2017A double portrait by Federico Beltran Masses (1885-1949) attracted a flurry of bids at Bonhams’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist art auction on September 27.
Chinese scroll sets Australian auction record for Asian art at Bonhams
27 October 2017A rare Chinese scroll by artist Fu Baoshi (1904-1965) has made an auction record for Bonhams in Australia.
London to Brighton classic cars cruise into auction at Bonhams
26 October 2017Fancy owning one of the earliest vehicles on the road and racing it down to Brighton? Now’s your chance as more than 20 vintage cars, many restored and fit to compete in the 120-year old veteran run, are to be sold in early November.
Early printed works measure up
23 October 2017The celebrated Columbus letter announcing his discovery of a New World, sold for $620,000 (£462,000), was very much the star turn at Bonhams New York (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) on September 26 (see ATG No 2313).
Can you dig it: Brunel Thames Tunnel archive of designs on offer in London auction
19 October 2017London is a city now thoroughly used to tunnels. Tube travel has become a normal way to get about the bustling capital and has been for many years. Meanwhile, the huge Crossrail project tunnel section heading east from Paddington is scheduled for December next year.
Rare Martin planetarium on offer at Bonhams scientific sale
13 October 2017Sextants, microscopes, telescopes and tellariums all lead the way at Bonhams scientific instruments sale with a Benjamin Martin tellarium and planetarium in the spotlight.
Dramatic auction result for portrait of leading 1920s Hollywood couple
11 October 2017A double portrait of the two early 20th century Hollywood stars Pola Negri and Rudolph Valentino drew an appropriately dramatic competition at Bonhams in London.
Columbus discovers the ‘wrong’ kind of Indies
09 October 2017“My lord, because I know that you will take pleasure in the great victory which our Lord has granted me on this voyage, I write you this letter, by which you will learn how… I crossed to the Indies, where I found many islands populated with innumerable inhabitants; and I have taken possession of all of them…”
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