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.


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Perfect chairs to go with a round table

28 October 2024

The sale of Vernacular Furniture, Folk & Naive Art and Textiles held online by Bonhams in Knightsbridge from October 4-22 included this extraordinary set of 13 Edwardian or George V ‘Antiquarian’ chairs.

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A case of Dismorr the merrier

28 October 2024

Large group of works by the Modern British artist from a single-owner source finds a warm welcome

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Merkle collection showcases slapstick scenes of the Commedia dell’arte to a Parisian audience

21 October 2024

On October 31 Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr of Paris will be holding the second instalment of its dispersal of Meissen porcelain from the collection of Hadrian Merkle.

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Cup and saucer from Nelson service surface

21 October 2024

Nelson was a great admirer of porcelain and he and Emma Hamilton owned several services.

17.10.24 Webpv Rory Gallagher Guitar

Rory Gallagher’s 1961 Fender Stratocaster rocks auction

17 October 2024

The Irish musician’s guitar collection, including his famous Fender Stratocaster, appeared at a dedicated Bonhams sales

L'Arbois, Sainte-Maxime by David Hockney

Hockney makes 10-fold return for vendor leading London’s Frieze week auctions

16 October 2024

The glut of auctions held during the week-long period of the ‘Frieze London’ and ‘Frieze Masters’ fairs generated an overall £184m including premium, roughly in line with the total from the equivalent sales last year.

Portrait of Lucas Alexander Ionides by James McNeill Whistler

Early Whistler portrait makes £320,000 at Bonhams

25 September 2024

James McNeill Whistler’s (1834-1903) first portrait commission, a painting of his friend Lucas Alexander Ionides, drew a strong bidding battle at Bonhams earlier today.

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Roll up, roll up for a great sale

23 September 2024

Exhibited in New Bond Street over the summer, Bonhams’ auction titled The Greatest Show: The Fairground World of Ross Hutchinson was held over two days earlier this month: 150 lots at a live auction on September 10, with a further 150 through a timed online sale concluding the following day.

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Autumn signals busy art market

23 September 2024

With the Olympics over and the new season well under way, there is plenty of activity in the French art market.

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Young specialist: Time flies when you’re having fun

23 September 2024

Three years ago we featured Lewis Walduck, aged 17, in our Collector Interview (ATG No 2490). He was also a horological apprentice with The Clock Work Shop at the time. Now, at the venerable age of 20, he has been in touch with us again to announce the good news about his latest role.

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William Prinsep prices pick up the pace as records tumble

16 September 2024

Recent sale results for the Anglo-Indian artist show a sharp rise as topographical views gain popularity

carved giltwood horse

Rare fairground memorabilia gallops ahead at London auction

11 September 2024

On entering an Edwardian fairground, the sheer size and scale of the ornately carved ‘bioscope’ show front would stop an observer in their tracks.

Bonhams new york headquarters

Bonhams announces new headquarters in New York at the iconic Steinway Hall

10 September 2024

Bonhams is set to relocate its New York headquarters from 580 Madison Avenue to the historic Steinway Hall at 111 West 57th Street.

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Big three auction houses to host Asian Art in London dealer shows

09 September 2024

For the first time London’s three major auction houses will host commercial dealer and gallery exhibitions as part of Asian Art in London (AAL).

Whistler portrait

Whistler’s first portrait commission comes to Bonhams

02 September 2024

Bonhams is offering James McNeill Whistler’s (1834-1903) first portrait commission, a painting of Lucas Alexander Ionides, at its 19th Century Art auction next month.

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Throwing shapes: Collectors eye Cartier watches with bold cases

02 September 2024

Once damned with faint praise, watches from Cartier’s Bond Street boutique are now winning fans among collectors for their adventurous case designs

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Export bar placed on Alan Turing’s unpublished Second World War papers

20 August 2024

A remarkable archive of newly discovered scientific papers by the mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing and his collaborator Donald Bayley has been temporarily blocked from export.

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The Hobbit stands tall for new auction high

12 August 2024

Spotlight on copy sold in superb Strutz collection – plus a look at other recent results for the Tolkien classic

Greatestshow 2

Roll up, roll up for an auction extravaganza of fairground memorabilia

10 August 2024

All the fun of the fair comes to Bonhams New Bond Street with a sale featuring an array of vintage and antique fairground figures and carvings, ride seats shaped as animals, games and posters.

Chabi Nouri

New Bonhams global CEO among latest movers and shakers

08 August 2024

The latest jobs news across the world of art and antiques

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