Plymouth Auction Rooms

Plymouth Auction Rooms are a family-run firm in the West Country holding regular sales of pictures, antiques, jewellery, watches, silver and other collectables.

Founded in 1992, they are run by auctioneer and valuer Paul Keen.


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‘Gem of a painting’ was created by key figure in Tempera Revival

07 April 2025

One of the highest prices for a figurative work by Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881-1972) came at an early spring sale at Plymouth Auction Rooms (20% buyer’s premium).

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Elgar shows his admiration for Kingdom performers

03 February 2025

A signed copy of Novello’s original octavo edition of Edward Elgar’s The Kingdom appeared in Plymouth Auction Rooms’ (20% buyer’s premium) New Year’s Day Collectors timed online sale.

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Confident bidders compete for gem ‘believed to be Marlborough Antinous’

13 January 2025

A gold-mounted garnet intaglio ring depicting the handsome Greek youth Antinous was taken to a multi-estimate £24,000 at Busby’s (25/10% buyer’s premium), triggering speculation it might be one of the lost ancient Marlborough gems.

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Visitor book includes four entries for a certain Elizabeth R

14 October 2024

Michael Ramsey (1904-88) who served as the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury from 1961-74, curated his own personal visitor book that tracked his career from 1942-87.

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Falklands appeal fuels £82,000 bid

31 October 2022

Relatively few gallantry medals available for what was short self-contained conflict, heroic stories involving highly collectable regiments, a relatively morally unambiguous backstory (for British collectors at least)… the Falklands War can generate high demand at auction.

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Softer side of the Newlyn community

02 May 2022

When people think of the Newlyn School, most commonly it is pictures of Cornish fishermen, farmers and miners that spring to mind.

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William and Mary furniture welcomed to salerooms

07 March 2022

Among the most traditional of antiques, the William and Mary oyster veneered walnut chest of drawers remains a welcome visitor to the saleroom.

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Rev Garner: a man of war and peace

16 March 2020

The Church of England was Geoffrey Garner’s vocation in life – collecting military badges his hobby

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A Northern School collection in Plymouth

23 September 2019

Inspired by LS Lowry, the self-taught Mancunian artist Fred Yates (1922-2008) set out to paint pictures about the lives of ordinary people. These canvases – ranging from the industrial architecture and street life of Manchester to the sunnier scenes he painted after his move to Cornwall in 1969 – attract a loyal following on the secondary market.

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Five lots to watch at auction this week including an Italian Art Nouveau cabinet, a Minton tortoise teapot and a signed Harry Potter book

24 June 2019

With estimates from £50-12,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.

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Five lots to watch at auction this week including a 19th century Italian table, a Royal Crown Derby tureen and a horse-racing cup

27 May 2019

With estimates from £300-12,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.

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Five lots to watch at auction this week including Mod Brit art, a ‘bone shaker’ bicycle and a rare map

15 April 2019

With estimates from £80-30,000, here are five previews from upcoming sales this week.

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Picasso owl vase

Plymouth collector swoops on Picasso owl vase

26 January 2017

A Picasso vase uncovered in a remote Cornish cottage has sold at auction in Plymouth for £2800.

Picasso owl vase

Picasso picked up near Plymouth goes to auction

14 November 2016

Plymouth Auction Rooms made a surprise find on a recent visit to a remote Cornish cottage on the banks of the river Tamar. The auction firm was valuing a mixture of Cornish art and collectables at the address when it came across a Pablo Picasso vase.

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Rare views of the world champion’s defeat in Cuba turn up for sale in Plymouth

16 September 2013

One of the most interesting things about auctions is how unusual objects from one side of the world come to be sold on the other, often with no apparent link.

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Spitfire pilot’s medal group

16 November 2012

This DFC medal group of a British Spitfire pilot who survived the war despite crashing and being given up for dead by his colleagues has an estimate of £8000-10,000 in Plymouth Auction Rooms’ November 21 sale.

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The different faces of the Doulton market

23 October 2012

In a marketplace seriously in need of entry-level collectors, the great majority of Royal Doulton character jugs and HN series figures are worth under £100 – and most of them less than £30 when sold without reserve at auction.

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The collection of ‘the penalty king’

12 July 2012

Two England caps awarded to West Ham goalkeeper Ted Hufton (1892-1967) are to be sold at Plymouth Auction Rooms on July 18.

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Eureka clock emerges in Plymouth

30 April 2012

Bids in the region of £1000-1500 are expected at Plymouth Auction Rooms on May 9 for this Eureka four-glass electric clock.

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