Bonhams & Butterfields
| Company type | Private (formerly) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auction house |
| Predecessor | Butterfield & Butterfield |
| Founded | 1865 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | William Butterfield |
| Fate | Acquired by Bonhams in 2002 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | United States, international |
Key people | Bernard Osher (former owner) |
| Products | Auctions of fine art, jewelry, Western Americana, decorative arts, estate sales |
| Parent | Bonhams (from 2002) |
Bonhams and Butterfield was a prominent American auction house that originated in 1865, founded by William Butterfield in San Francisco.
In 1999, the company was purchased from Bernard Osher by the online auction platform eBay for $260 million.
Subsequently, in 2002, the British auction firm Bonhams acquired it from eBay, operating under the name Bonhams & Butterfields for nearly ten years before simplifying the brand to Bonhams.
History
Butterfield & Butterfield began its operations in San Francisco in 1865, established by William Butterfield, a former sheriff who started auctioning items recovered from ships arriving during the Gold Rush. The company rapidly earned distinction for handling estate sales, consignments, and artifacts from the Gold Rush period, becoming a significant presence in San Francisco’s art and antiques scene.
After William Butterfield passed away, his son Fred and later his grandson Reeder Butterfield took charge and grew the business. As markets on the West Coast developed, the firm launched specialized divisions focusing on fine art, jewelry, Western Americana, and decorative arts. It became renowned for conducting auctions featuring major California estates and prestigious collections of art, furnishings, and memorabilia.
In 1970, Bernard Osher, a businessman and art collector, acquired the company. Under his guidance, Butterfield & Butterfield broadened its expertise and inaugurated a saleroom in Los Angeles in 1988, extending its influence nationally and internationally. The firm also embraced technological advancements such as online bidding and live remote auction participation during the late 1990s.
eBay’s acquisition of the company in 1999 for approximately $260 million integrated Butterfield’s specialist teams and appraisal services into its platform. Nonetheless, merging traditional high-end auctions with online operations presented difficulties. In 2002, Bonhams of London purchased the firm, incorporating it into its worldwide network and expanding its footprint on the U.S. West Coast under the Bonhams & Butterfields name before eventually retiring the Butterfields branding.
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