Bonhams Opens New Headquarters

The Financial Times reports on the opening of Bonhams new headquarters and showroom in London.  The folks at Bonhams have long been supporters of ISA appraisers through sponsorship at our conferences as well as sending speakers, in addition to supporting our appraisers when working with clients.  We wish Bonhams well and much success in their new location.

The FT reports

Bonhams has unveiled its “spectacular new headquarters” in London, and for once the hype is justified. In place of its rather shabby old rabbit warren, it has conjured a light-flooded, state-of-the- art building with three immense salerooms. Everything is in sleek wood, steel and glass; foldaway doors disappear into the walls, giving clear views from the salerooms into Haunch of Venison Yard. A huge car lift can bring vehicles – the second-biggest grossing part of Bonhams’ business, after paintings – directly into the building. The sky boxes have special lighting so that bidders can watch without being watched.

Matthew Girling, chief executive of Bonhams, says that to his knowledge it is the only custom-built saleroom of any international auction house. He is particularly proud of the soaring atrium, rising through five floors, that connects the building to New Bond Street. The new premises will show highlights of the firm’s coming sales until next Tuesday, including Fragonard’s “Portrait of François-Henri, 5th duc d’Harcourt”, estimated at more than £10m.

Meanwhile, Phillips is on the move in Paris, taking over a historic building in the Rue du Bac, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Bigger than the firm’s previous Right Bank home, the space includes an exhibition room that is open this weekend to show highlights of its forthcoming New York sales.

Source: Financial Times