Auction House Profile
Bonhams
Global · Founded 1793 · London, United Kingdom
Bonhams is a global auction house founded in London in 1793, active across fine art, motor cars, jewellery, Asian art, design and collectibles.
Fine art sales
2
Specialist sales
0
Founded
1793
Last sync
20 July, 06:23 am
Overview
Bonhams traces its history to an auction business established by antique print dealer Thomas Dodd at Tavistock Street in Covent Garden, London, in 1793. Following Dodd’s bankruptcy in 1817, the business passed through several hands, and the Bonham name became established in the 1850s through the partnership of George Jones and George Bonham. The modern Bonhams was shaped by a series of mergers and acquisitions. Bonhams & Brooks merged with Phillips Son & Neale in 2001, establishing the company’s headquarters at 101 New Bond Street in London. The auction house later expanded internationally through acquisitions including Butterfields, Bukowskis, Bruun Rasmussen, Skinner and Cornette de Saint Cyr. Bonhams is particularly known for fine art and specialist collecting categories including motor cars, Asian art, jewellery, watches, ceramics, musical instruments, books and manuscripts. It conducts live, online, hybrid and private sales across more than 60 collecting categories.
Specialties & Departments
Specialties
Departments
Auction Calendar
GCR continuously monitors public auction calendars published by leading auction houses around the world. Upcoming fine art and collectable sales are presented first, followed by other public auctions conducted by the same institution.
Upcoming Fine Art Auctions
Modern Design | Art | Featuring 'Lorna Lane: The Legacy of Billy Haines'
upcoming · USD · Los Angeles
Other Public Auctions (1)
GCR is dedicated to the fine art market. While our primary focus is fine art and collectables, we also monitor other public auctions conducted by this auction house to present a complete picture of its public auction programme.
Saleroom
Locations
London
United Kingdom
Headquarters and principal saleroom at 101 New Bond Street
London
United Kingdom
Knightsbridge saleroom
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Scottish saleroom and specialist office
New York
United States
United States headquarters and saleroom at 111 West 57th Street
Los Angeles
United States
West Coast saleroom and specialist office
Boston
United States
Bonhams Skinner saleroom and specialist operations
Paris
France
European saleroom and Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr operations
Brussels
Belgium
European specialist office
Monaco
Monaco
Regional specialist and client services
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Asia-Pacific saleroom at Pacific Place
Sydney
Australia
Australian saleroom and specialist office
Melbourne
Australia
Australian specialist and valuation office
Timeline
Antique print dealer Thomas Dodd establishes an auction business at Tavistock Street in Covent Garden, London.
Following Thomas Dodd’s bankruptcy, the business passes to his apprentice George Jones.
The firm conducts an early notable sale of furniture from Buckingham Palace.
George Jones partners with George Bonham, establishing the Bonham name and expanding the business into broader antique categories.
The auction house becomes Messrs W & F C Bonham under Frederick Charles and William Bonham.
The Bonham family develops a purpose-built saleroom in Knightsbridge, London.
Christopher Elwes joins the business and develops a strategy centred on specialist collecting categories.
Bonhams establishes a dedicated ceramics department.
Bonhams holds its first public auction in Japan, offering Beatles memorabilia in Tokyo.
Bonhams collaborates with Tajan and Dorotheum on a joint European modern art auction.
The company becomes Bonhams & Brooks following its acquisition by Brooks, founded by former Christie’s motor-car specialist Robert Brooks.
Bonhams & Brooks merges with Phillips Son & Neale and begins trading as Bonhams, with headquarters at 101 New Bond Street.
Bonhams acquires the California auction house Butterfields, substantially expanding its presence in the United States.
Bonhams buys out LVMH’s minority stake and returns to full independence.
The redeveloped 101 New Bond Street headquarters opens in London. That year Bonhams sells Fragonard’s Portrait of François-Henri d’Harcourt for £17.1 million.
Bonhams completes a major refurbishment of its Knightsbridge saleroom.
Bonhams conducts its first online-only auction, offering watches from a European noble collection.
Bonhams is acquired by the British private equity firm Epiris.
Bonhams conducts its first hybrid auction during the COVID-19 restrictions.
Bonhams acquires the online auction platform The Market.
Bonhams acquires Bukowskis, Bruun Rasmussen, Skinner and Cornette de Saint Cyr during a major expansion of its international network.
Bonhams is acquired by Pemberton Asset Management.
Auction Highlight
Jean-Honoré Fragonard — Portrait of François-Henri, 5th duc d’Harcourt
One of the defining auction moments in Bonhams' history came in December 2013, when Jean-Honoré Fragonard's Portrait of François-Henri, 5th duc d’Harcourt sold for £17.1 million in London, establishing a new auction record for the French Rococo master. The painting, which had remained in the Harcourt family collection before entering the Rau Collection, is supported by exceptional provenance, extensive exhibition history and decades of scholarly literature. The sale demonstrated Bonhams' ability to bring museum-quality masterpieces to the international market and remains one of the auction house's most celebrated achievements.
View the Bonhams lot ↗Market Notes
Sale formats
References
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