Auction House Profile
Phillips
International · Founded 1796 · London, United Kingdom
Phillips is an international auction house founded in London in 1796, specialising in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches and Jewels.
Fine art sales
7
Specialist sales
3
Founded
1796
Last sync
20 July, 08:32 am
Overview
Founded in Westminster, London, in 1796 by Harry Phillips, Phillips is one of the world's longest-established auction houses. Its early reputation was shaped by prominent estate and royal sales, as well as Harry Phillips' theatrical evening receptions before major auctions. Today, Phillips focuses primarily on art and collecting categories from the 20th and 21st centuries. The auction house conducts sales and exhibitions in London, New York, Geneva and Hong Kong, supported by representative offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Phillips also operates private sales, valuation and advisory services, and has developed digital initiatives including Dropshop.
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 & Contemporary Art: Online Auction, Hong Kong
upcoming · HKD · Hong Kong
Specialist & Collectable Auctions (3)
Broader specialist, collectable, estate and mixed-category auctions that may include culturally significant material beyond the main fine art departments.
Other Public Auctions (5)
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.
Phillips Watches Online Auction: The Geneva Sessions, Fall 2026
upcoming · CHF · Geneva
Phillips Watches Online Auction: The Hong Kong Sessions, Fall 2026
upcoming · HKD · Hong Kong
Saleroom
Locations
London
United Kingdom
Historic headquarters and principal European saleroom
New York
United States
Americas headquarters and major auction galleries
Geneva
Switzerland
Important centre for international watch and jewellery auctions
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Asia headquarters and purpose-built auction space in West Kowloon
Timeline
Harry Phillips establishes the auction house in Westminster, London.
Phillips develops a reputation for prominent estate sales and elaborate evening receptions held before major auctions.
Venture-capital group 3i acquires a majority interest in the business.
Bernard Arnault and LVMH acquire Phillips as part of an expansion into the international auction market.
The company's United Kingdom operations are sold to Bonhams.
Simon de Pury and Daniella Luxembourg acquire the remaining business, which later operates as Phillips de Pury & Company.
Mercury Group acquires the auction house.
The company returns to the name Phillips.
Phillips relocates its New York headquarters to galleries at 432 Park Avenue.
Phillips opens its purpose-built Asia headquarters and auction space in West Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Auction Highlight
Jean-Michel Basquiat — Untitled
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled, executed in 1982, is one of the artist's most ambitious and important paintings. Created during the breakthrough year that established Basquiat as a major international figure, the monumental canvas combines street-derived imagery, raw painterly energy and a powerful self-referential figure. Offered by Phillips from the collection of Yusaku Maezawa, the work sold for US$85 million and stands as a defining example of Phillips' strength in the global market for Modern and Contemporary Art.
View the Phillips lot ↗Market Notes
Sale formats
References
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