Arguably London’s most famous auction house, Sotheby’s has become a landmark of New Bond Street, where it has been since 1917.
World-class experts in art, jewellery, automobiles, wine, watches, and more Sotheby’s is a name that regularly appears in the news and the history books for some of the most impressive sales of all time.
The institution currently holds the record for the highest bid on any art work at the time of sale when Alberto Giacometti’s‘L’Homme Qui MarcheI’achieved $104.3 million in February 2010.
It also boasts the title of the oldest art auction house in the world, having been founded in 1774, and was located on Wellington Street, off The Strand, in its early years. The move elevated their status and ultimately brought them to where they are today, with auction houses in New York, Doha, Zurich, Paris, Milan, Geneva, Hong Kong and Beijing.
The building they occupy was formerly a parfumiers, a hostelry, and the galleries of French artist Gustave Doré, which helped to put them on the art world’s map. Upon the move, they also installed an Ancient Egyptian bust of the lion-goddess Sekhmet above the door, where it remains today and is the oldest outdoor statue in London, as well as the unofficial mascot of the auction house.
The Sotheby’s restaurant is also open daily from 9am to 5pm for breakfast, lunch and traditional afternoon tea. It is an ideal spot for those celebrating a big auction win, impressing business clients or soaking up some quintessential Britishness.
For dealers and collectors, Sotheby’s are able to provide estimates and insurance valuations on any valuable items you may own in the categories they cater for, as well as offering the world’s only full-service art financing service.
The auction house, including restaurant, is closed on weekends.
