Auction House Profile
VAN HAM
European · Founded 1959 · Cologne, Germany
VAN HAM is a family-run German auction house founded in Cologne in 1959, known particularly for Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art and for its strong position in the German auction market.


Current sales
0
Upcoming sales
0
Founded
1959
Last sync
20 Oct, 11:11 am
Overview
VAN HAM was founded in Cologne in 1959 by art historian Carola van Ham, who had previously worked at Lempertz and continued the auction tradition of Franz A. Menna. The firm developed into one of Germany's significant family-run auction houses and is today managed in the second generation by Markus Eisenbeis. The house combines traditional live auctions with a substantial digital auction programme. Its principal art categories include Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Fine Art, Old Masters and Impressionism, Works of Art and Art Nouveau, together with Fine Jewels and Watches. VAN HAM has developed particular strength in twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, including artists associated with German Modernism, the Rhineland ZERO movement and international Post-War and Contemporary art. Its auction history includes works by Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Günther Uecker, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Yves Klein, Lucio Fontana, Wassily Kandinsky and Andy Warhol. The auction house has also become an important venue for major private and corporate collections. Its Cologne headquarters, opened in 2014, provides purpose-built exhibition and auction spaces and remains the centre of the company's international auction activities.
Specialties & Departments
Specialties
Departments
Recent Featured Lot

09 Sept 2026
Otto Dix
Zwei Trüschen, 1948
Estimate: EUR25,000–35,000
Modern Art · Lot 57
Auction Calendar
GCR monitors public auction calendars and documented auction catalogues published by this auction house. Current and upcoming sales are presented chronologically, with their market categories shown for context.
Upcoming Sales (0)
No upcoming sales recorded.
Auction Archive
Past Sales
Recently completed auctions from VAN HAM. When available, GCR displays the official sale cover or a representative documented lot.

09 Sept 2026
Results processingModern Art
The auction has closed. Results are currently being processed.
Cover image from a representative lot by Otto Dix · Lot 57
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Recently Closed
Jewels – Must Haves
4 lots
02 Sept 2026
Results processingJewels – Must Haves
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02 Sept 2026
Results processingPrints and Multiples
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Cover image from a representative lot by Tom Wesselmann · Lot 24
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Recently Closed
Finds under 5,000
4 lots
01 July 2026
Results processingFinds under 5,000
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Recently Closed
Art of the 20th / 21st Century
4 lots
24 June 2026
Results processingArt of the 20th / 21st Century
The auction has closed. Results are currently being processed.
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Recently Closed
Jewels – Summer Radiance
4 lots
17 June 2026
Results processingJewels – Summer Radiance
The auction has closed. Results are currently being processed.
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Saleroom

Locations
Cologne
Germany
Headquarters, principal saleroom and exhibition location
Timeline
Art historian Carola van Ham founds Kunsthaus am Museum in Cologne, establishing the business that becomes VAN HAM.
Art historian Dr. Werner Stopp joins the firm and contributes to its early development.
Markus Eisenbeis assumes leadership of the family auction house.
VAN HAM opens its purpose-built headquarters at Hitzelerstraße 2 in Cologne.
The Achenbach Art Auction becomes one of the defining contemporary-art sales in the firm's history.
VAN HAM reports annual turnover of approximately €51.2 million and continues expanding its Modern, Post-War, Contemporary and online auction programmes.
The firm handles major institutional and corporate collections, including substantial works from the Bayer Collection.
VAN HAM continues live and Online Only auctions across Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Fine Art, Works of Art, Art Nouveau, jewellery and watches.
Market Notes
Sale formats
References
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