Auction houses emerged long ago as venues where art dealers, owners, and collectors could meet and strike lucrative deals. At present, art auctions remain a vital part of the global art market. Here is the list of 4 famous art auction houses associated with prestige, luxury, and exclusivity.

Top 4 Famous Art Auction Houses

Do you want to access the world’s top-ranking works of art or present your possession with the highest visibility and chances for a lucrative deal? Here is the list of the famous art auction houses that enjoy the best reputation and popularity in the global art community.

Christie’s

Christie’s firmly assumes leadership in the global rating of prestigious and famous auction houses. It has a long and rich history since its founding in 1766 by James Christie. The initial specialization of Christie’s was fine art, but it grew to include jewelry, wine, and a wide range of other collectibles in later years. This auction house is widely known for high-rank sales of the world’s rarest and most valuable artworks, such as da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi and Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger.

Sotheby’s

Another world-famous auction house competing with Christie’s for the top place in the global ranking is Sotheby’s. Founded in 1644 by Samuel Baker, it’s even older than Christie’s. The business first specialized in book auctioneering but quickly expanded into fine art and jewelry items. Sotheby’s flourished in the 20th century due to the wise and capable leadership of Peter Wilson, a skilled businessman who brought Sotheby’s to the global arena. Like Christie’s, this auction house is famous for high-rank sales, including Edvard Munch’s The Scream and works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons.

Bonhams

Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the oldest and largest international auctioneers of art and antiques, with locations all over the world, including in New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. The main specialization of Bonhams is British art, Old Masters, antiques, watches, and collectibles. Art collectors can also purchase important contemporary and modern art at many Bonhams auctions.

Dorotheum

Dorotheum was founded in Vienna in 1707 as a project of Emperor Joseph I. It initially focused on selling royal treasuries and various court items but later grew into a universal auction house with fine art, jewelry, furniture, and collectibles on offer. Dorotheum is world-famous for Austrian art sales, such as Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Gertrud Loew, and a focus on Old Masters. The auction house has a broad network of locations across Europe.

Now you know where to look for the world’s rarest art pieces and collectibles. Find out more fascinating details about the most prestigious art auctions in other articles on our blog.