Bonhams Expanding into Asia

As the Asian market continues to grow auction houses continue to look for ways to expand sales and find new collectors. The Antiques Trade Gazette reports that Bonhams plans on expanding its outreach in Asia through its new Hong Kong headquarters.  With this, Bonhams plans on have more sales outside the traditional spring and fall sales. They also plan on expanding the collecting areas for Hong Kong sales as well.

The Antiques Trade Gazette reports

Bonhams have pledged to use their new Hong Kong headquarters to expand the territory’s traditional sales programme throughout the year.

Chairman Robert Brooks, who invited British Consul-General for Hong Kong & Macao Caroline Wilson to open the company's newly refurbished Far Eastern HQ at One Pacific Place in central Hong Kong on May 8, told the gathering: "We also believe the time is right to make another major change.

"As you know, at the moment, sales in Hong Kong take place in two short bursts of activity - in spring and autumn. We're going to alter that. So, overall, Bonhams will be offering more sales, more often and in more collecting areas than our rivals.

"This is how the auction business operates in the rest of the world. We think that's how it should operate here."

Technical Features

The Hong Kong auction gallery was designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the same award-winning UK architects who recently completed the redevelopment of Bonhams' Bond Street HQ in London and will now turn their attention to the auction house's New York premises.

Mr Brooks said that the newly unveiled Hong Kong gallery included "unprecedented technical features to provide uniquely flexible open space immediately adaptable to accommodate auctions, lectures, private previews and public events in one of Hong Kong's most prestigious buildings".

Source: Antiques Trade Gazette