Sotheby's

Sotheby’s have been holding auctions since 1744.  Founded in London, where they moved into salerooms on Bond Street in 1917, Sotheby’s expanded to New York in 1955 and now have salerooms and offices around the world.

Sotheby’s offer specialist sales in over 70 different categories though four major salerooms, six smaller ones and through their online bidding platform BIDnow.


Surrealist entrance to Sotheby's

London series topped by £51.5m record for Magritte

07 March 2022

A Surrealist painting by René Magritte (1898-1967) led the latest round of Modern and Contemporary art sales in London.

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Investment that brings a big return

07 March 2022

One of the stand-out lots at Sotheby’s New York (26/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) was a 1949 first printing of The Intelligent Investor.

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Amy Johnson’s ‘Weems’ takes flight

07 March 2022

In May 1930 Amy Johnson (1903-41) set off in a De Havilland Gipsy Moth called Jason to become the first woman to fly solo from Great Britain to Australia. The feat, followed by further long-distance solo and combined flights, earnt her place in aviation history.

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Know one’s snuff: Chinese snuff bottles are among the highlights of Asia Week New York

28 February 2022

A collection of Chinese snuff bottles offered in two sessions stands out among an intriguing selection of Asia Week New York auctions and dealer shows.

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A taste of Givenchy and Lagerfeld style at Sotheby’s and Christie’s

21 February 2022

Christie’s and Sotheby’s have both announced sales from collections of famous fashion designers to be held this year.

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Very early guitar lessons

21 February 2022

The big number in a London sale of music books, manuscripts, etc, was a collection of early pieces for guitar described as the most significant manuscript of its kind seen at auction in over 20 years.

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Bill of Rights amendment makes over a million at Sotheby’s

14 February 2022

The record-shattering sum of $41m paid for an extremely rare, 1787 first printing of the US Constitution at Sotheby’s New York last November was covered in ATG No 2520, but a sale held by the same auction house a few days later, on November 23, also contained rare items of American historical interest.

Sotheby's

Anger as Sotheby’s closes pension scheme

07 February 2022

A group of Sotheby’s former employees are considering further action against the auction house’s plan to close its ‘defined benefit’ pension plan.

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Botticelli top at Sotheby’s for second year

31 January 2022

The January series of Old Master auctions at Sotheby’s New York was led by a Sandro Botticelli (c.1445-1510) painting for the second year running.

‘The Newbattle Turks’

Pick of the week: ‘Newbattle Turks’ take a huge £1.1m

31 January 2022

A set of six 17th century portraits depicting Ottoman sultans sparked an extraordinary bidding contest at a Sotheby’s online sale.

Louvre

Louvre and Sotheby’s team up to trace provenance of artworks bought by museum during Second World War

25 January 2022

The Louvre has agreed a partnership with Sotheby's to research the provenance of artworks acquired between 1933-45 by the museum.

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French auction sales firmly show recovery from Covid

24 January 2022

Auction totals for 2021 underline the strong recovery since the start of the pandemic

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Latest appointments at Sotheby's, Phillips and Freeman's

24 January 2022

Phillips has appointed Jean-Paul Engelen to the newly created role of president, Americas. In addition, he will continue as worldwide co-head of 20th century and Contemporary art.

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A Rackham wonderland at Sotheby's online auction

24 January 2022

Offered at Sotheby’s (26/20/13.9% buyer’s premium) in an online sale that ran until December 1 under the title of The Fantasy World of Arthur Rackham was a collection of 31 original ink and watercolour artworks by the artist from the collection of American photographer Shirley Carter Burden (1908-89).

Kinghams

New hires and salerooms – a round up of Movers and Shakers in the UK, US and China

11 January 2022

The latest jobs news across the world of art and antiques.

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Top auction houses enjoy strong 2021

03 January 2022

Despite – or perhaps because of – the pandemic, three of the top international auction houses posted record or near-record results for 2021.

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Fundraising keeps Honresfield Library intact

03 January 2022

Successful £15.3m campaign secures British literature treasures including Brontë family manuscripts.

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Boudin races up to record price

03 January 2022

View of French resort comes from collection assembled over decades by a dealer and his wife.

Portrait of Prince William

UK buyer sought for rare portrait of the future King William IV

22 December 2021

An export block has been placed on a portrait of the future King William IV painted during the American Revolutionary war, in the hope a UK buyer can be found.

Biffin watercolour

The £9000 tribute to the talented Miss Biffin

20 December 2021

A rare work by Sarah Biffin (1784-1850), the early 19th century artist born without limbs, sold for £9000 at Sworders on December 15.

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