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Sotheby's

Coordinates: 51°30′43″N 0°08′37″W / 51.51194°N 0.14361°W / 51.51194; -0.14361
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Sotheby's
Company typePrivate
IndustryAuction house, Art market
FoundedMarch 11, 1744; 282 years ago (1744-03-11) in London, United Kingdom
FounderSamuel Baker
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide (80 sites in 40 countries)
Key people
Patrick Drahi (owner)
ProductsAuctions of fine art, decorative art, jewellery, collectibles
OwnerPatrick Drahi
Websitewww.sothebys.com

Sotheby's (pronounced Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is a multinational enterprise originally founded in Britain, now headquartered in New York City. It ranks among the foremost global intermediaries in the trade of fine art, decorative art, jewellery, and various collectibles. Operating across 80 sites in 40 countries, Sotheby's also retains a strong foothold within the United Kingdom.[1]

The company was founded on 11 March 1744 in London by Samuel Baker, who was a bookseller by profession.[2] In 1767, following George Leigh's partnership, the business was renamed Baker & Leigh. After Baker's passing in 1778, his nephew John Sotheby inherited Leigh's stake, leading to the firm being called Leigh and Sotheby. Over time, the company has operated under several names including Leigh, Sotheby and Wilkinson;[3] Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge (from 1864 to 1924); Sotheby and Company (1924–1983);[4] as well as Mssrs Sotheby, Sotheby & Wilkinson, Sotheby Mak van Waay, and Sotheby's & Co.[3]

The American holding entity was first established in August 1983 under the name Sotheby's Holdings, Inc in Michigan. It underwent reincorporation in Delaware in June 2006, adopting the simplified name Sotheby's.[5] In June 2019, French-Israeli entrepreneur Patrick Drahi acquired Sotheby's at a premium of 61% above its market value.[6][7]

Among its subsidiaries or affiliated ventures are Sotheby's Institute of Art, an educational institution; Sotheby's International Realty, specialising in real estate; and RM Sotheby's, which focuses on classic automobile sales.[8]

Origins (18th & 19th century)

File:Sothebys book sale, 1888.jpg
An auction of books underway at Messrs Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge on Wellington Street, London, 1888

The foundation of Sotheby's dates back to 11 March 1744 in London, when Samuel Baker, a bookseller, launched the company. By 1767, the enterprise was renamed Baker & Leigh,[3][9] following Samuel Baker’s auction of several hundred valuable volumes from the library of The Rt Hon Sir John Stanley, 1st Baronet of Grangegorman, and his partnership with George Leigh.[9][10] Notable collections auctioned by Baker included the library Napoleon carried into exile on St Helena, as well as those belonging to John Wilkes, Benjamin Heywood Bright, and the Dukes of Devonshire and Buckingham (both connected to George Leigh).[9]

Upon Samuel Baker's passing in 1778, George Leigh and his nephew John Sotheby took control, transforming the business into a distinguished book auction house renamed Leigh and Sotheby.[10][3]

George Leigh passed away in 1816 but not before bringing Samuel E Leigh into the firm.[11] Under the stewardship of the Sotheby family, the company broadened its auction offerings to include prints, medals, and coins.[12][9] Following the death of the last Sotheby family member in 1861, senior accountant John Wilkinson became a partner and subsequently assumed leadership of the firm.[13]

20th century developments

File:London sothebys 09.03.2013 12-35-21.jpg
Sotheby's office located on New Bond Street, London

Initially, Sotheby's did not focus on auctioning fine art.[4] Their breakthrough in this domain came in 1913 with the sale of a painting by Frans Hals for nine thousand guineas.[14]

Throughout its history, Sotheby's has operated under various names including Leigh, Sotheby and Wilkinson;[3] Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge (1864–1924); Sotheby and Company (1924–83);[4] Mssrs Sotheby; Sotheby & Wilkinson; Sotheby Mak van Waay; and Sotheby's & Co.[3] In 1917, the firm moved from 13 Wellington Street to its current London location at 34–35 New Bond Street.[4] It quickly emerged as a key competitor to Christie's within London's auction scene,[15] capitalizing on growth in arts auctions.

The acquisition of Parke-Bernet in 1964 marked Sotheby's entry into becoming the leading fine art auctioneer in the United States.[4] By 1965, Sotheby's had relocated its New York operations to 980 Madison Avenue.[16] As international demand for fine art auctions expanded, offices were established in Paris[17] and Los Angeles in 1967,[18] followed by pioneering operations in Hong Kong in 1973,[19] and later expansion into Moscow by 1988.[20]

Beyond hosting numerous significant auctions, Sotheby's auctioneers have also featured prominently in films such as the 1983 James Bond movie Octopussy.[21]

In 1988, Sotheby's initiated a Decorative Arts Award, which was exhibited in both London and Tokyo. While some critics dismissed certain entries as mere Crafts, several prominent figures took part. The silversmith Michael Rowe won this award that year,[22] while a detail from Mary Farmer's tapestry Soft Flight was featured on the exhibition catalogue cover.[23]

Recognizing private sales as a vital and growing revenue stream, Sotheby's expanded by acquiring art galleries and assisting dealers with financing acquisitions. The company also formed partnerships with dealers for private transactions.[24] In 1990, it collaborated with dealer William Acquavella to create Acquavella Modern Art, a Nevada-based general partnership[25] operating as a subsidiary under Sotheby's Holding Company. This entity acquired approximately $143 million worth of artwork from Manhattan's Pierre Matisse Gallery, encompassing around 2,300 pieces by artists such as Miró, Jean Dubuffet, Alberto Giacometti, and Marc Chagall, which were then sold both privately and at auction.[26]

Sotheby's further expanded its gallery presence by acquiring the Andre Emmerich Gallery in 1996 to establish Emmerich/Sotheby's,[26] though this move led to key estates such as those of Josef and Anni Albers,[27] Morris Louis, and Milton Avery choosing not to renew contracts with Emmerich.[28] This followed announcements about closing Emmerich's main gallery space at 41 East 57th Street with artist representation shifting to Deitch Projects. The Andre Emmerich Gallery was ultimately closed by Sotheby's in 1998.

In addition to these ventures, Sotheby's acquired a fifty percent stake in Deitch Projects during 1997,[29] though it later divested this interest back to Jeffrey Deitch.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] That same year saw the purchase of Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers;[30] however, by 2001 auctions ceased there.[31]

In a notable acquisition during 2006, Sotheby's purchased Noortman Master Paintings—a Dutch dealership—from Robert Noortman for $82.5 million. This deal included $56.5 million paid through stock issuance along with assuming over $26 million in gallery debts including $11.7 million owed back to Sotheby's itself.[29][32] The two firms had previously cooperated during sales involving Dutch collector Joost Ritman’s holdings split between them in 1995.[33]

During the early ’90s decade, efforts were made by Sotheby's New York office to secure zoning changes allowing construction of a residential tower above their five-story headquarters—plans which never materialized. Throughout this period they explored potential relocations including sites like East 59th Street’s former Alexander's building or even moving into the old B. Altman Building on Fifth Avenue.[34]

21st century

Rows of folding metal chairs filled with potential bidders. A projector screen displays live bids submitted online, while staff along a side wall manage phone bids. Most attendees appear focused and subdued, indicating a potentially lengthy auction session.
A fine art auction held at Sotheby's New York in 2010, where participants could bid in person, via telephone, or online.

In 2000, the company acquired its York Avenue property for $11 million and completed an extensive $140 million expansion and refurbishment by 2001,[35] which included adding six additional floors and expanding the space by 240,000 square feet. This upgrade enabled the storage of artworks within the same location as specialist departments, galleries, and auction venues. Sotheby's New York headquarters also accommodated Sotheby's Wine[36] along with the former Bid restaurant—an American contemporary dining spot that later operated as a bistro—which ultimately closed due to insufficient patronage.[37] The building was sold in 2002 for $175 million.[35] Responding to heightened interest from Russian collectors in the global art market, Sotheby's launched an office in Moscow in May 2007 and conducted sales in Qatar by 2009.[38]

The economic downturn of 2008 impacted numerous sectors, including the art market, which contracted significantly. Globally, art prices dropped by 7.5% during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the preceding quarter. In September and October that year, leading auction houses experienced steep declines in sales; artprice.com, a foremost authority on art market data, coined this period "Black October." Sotheby's buy-in rate stood at 27%, while Christie's and Phillips de Pury recorded rates of 45% and 46%, respectively. Despite these challenges, total Fine Art auction sales worldwide and within the United States reached US$8.3 billion and US$2.9 billion correspondingly.[39] In 2009, hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen acquired a 6% ownership stake in Sotheby's through his firm SAC Capital Advisors.[40]

Noortman's Amsterdam gallery was shuttered in 2011 with operations relocating to London.[41][42] Two years afterward, Sotheby's closed Noortmans entirely after recognizing an $8.3 million inventory impairment and began disposing of lower-value artworks through other auction platforms.[41] As of As of 2021, Sotheby's operates across more than 40 nations with approximately 80 locations.[1] In 2012, the firm entered into a decade-long joint venture establishing Sotheby's (Beijing) Auction Co. Ltd., marking the first international auction house presence in China; this partnership involved a $1.2 million investment securing an 80% stake alongside state-owned Beijing Gehua Cultural Development Group.[43]

By 2012, annual revenues for Sotheby's were approximately US$831.8 million,[44] with principal offices located on Manhattan's York Avenue and London's New Bond Street.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]

Sotheby's maintains a longstanding competition with Christie's for dominance as the foremost global fine art auctioneer—a distinction often influenced by subjective perspectives. In August 2004, Sotheby's launched an online platform known as MySotheby's, enabling clients to monitor lots and compile dynamic "wishlists" that update automatically when new items are listed. Additionally, they introduced BIDnow, a service permitting real-time online bidding concurrent with live broadcast auctions, excluding Wine auctions. For wine sales specifically, LiveBid serves as Sotheby's exclusive online bidding system.[45]

Meanwhile, traditional auction revenue declined significantly; during the first half of 2012, Sotheby's reported a net income reduction of 42%.[46]

In February 2015, Sotheby's acquired a quarter ownership in classic and vintage automobile auctioneer RM Auctions.[47]

March of that year saw Tad Smith, previously president and CEO of New York's Madison Square Garden,[48] take over from William F. Ruprecht as CEO of Sotheby's.[49] Though lacking prior experience in auctions, Smith had overseen profit doubling at Madison Square Garden.[50] That same year marked the retirement of David Redden, Sotheby's longest-serving auctioneer and vice-chairman.[51]

In early 2016, Sotheby's invested $50 million to acquire Art Agency Partners—managed by Amy Cappellazzo, Allan Schwartzman, and Adam Chinn—with the sum divided among them alongside a $35 million performance bonus.[52] Their five-year contract concluded in 2021.[53]

By July 2016, Chinese insurer Taikang Life became the largest shareholder of Sotheby's with a stake amounting to 13.5%.[54]

On January 25, 2018, Sotheby's completed the acquisition of AI firm Thread Genius for an undisclosed price.[55]

In February 2019, plans were announced for expanding and redesigning Sotheby’s New York headquarters on the Upper East Side under Shohei Shigematsu from the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The gallery space is set to increase from its current size of roughly 67,000 square feet to over 90,000 square feet with additional galleries included.[56] Concurrently, the company unveiled a new online bidding platform accessible through its website.[57]

June of that year saw French-Israeli entrepreneur Patrick Drahi acquire Sotheby’s at a premium of approximately 61% over market value.[6][7] In October, Drahi appointed Charles F. Stewart as CEO while former CEO Tad Smith transitioned into an advisory capacity.[58] Drahi implemented several cost reduction initiatives including senior management layoffs during that year;[59] workforce reductions, salary cuts, and shifting auctions online amid the COVID-19 pandemic;[60] furthermore announcing termination of employee pension plans in the UK by early 2022.[61]

In terms of sales volume during the pandemic year of 2020, Sotheby’s surpassed Christie's for the first time since their rivalry began in earnest back in 2011—achieving aggregate sales exceeding $5 billion compared to Christie's $4.4 billion.[53]

By late 2021, Nathan Drahi—son of Patrick Drahi—held the position of managing director overseeing Sotheby’s operations across Asia.[62]

In June of 2023, Sotheby’s finalized an agreement to acquire 945 Madison Avenue, a former museum edifice designed by architect Marcel Breuer. This iconic building will become their new headquarters encompassing gallery spaces, exhibition areas, and an auction room with plans to open by the year 2025.[63]

History of public and private ownership

File:Sotheby York Av jeh.JPG
York Avenue headquarters, New York City

Sotheby's transitioned into a UK public company in 1977. Following a decline in sales by 1980, the company shifted its North American headquarters from Madison Avenue to a former cigar factory located at 1334 York Avenue, New York. By 1982, Sotheby's had shut down its Madison Avenue galleries on East 76th Street, sold its Los Angeles galleries, and centralized its West Coast auctions in New York.

In 1983, a consortium of investors, including American billionaire Alfred Taubman, acquired Sotheby's and took it private. The auction house was initially incorporated as Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. in Michigan during August of that year.

Taubman later took Sotheby's public in 1988 by listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where it became the longest-standing publicly traded entity under the ticker symbol "BID". In June 2006, Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. re-incorporated in Delaware and shortly thereafter adopted the simplified name Sotheby's.

In 2019, Patrick Drahi purchased Sotheby's for $3.7 billion, resulting in the company returning to private ownership and delisting from the NYSE.

By 2024, the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, the ADIA, acquired a minority interest in Sotheby's through an investment totaling around $1 billion.

Auction process

Main article: Auction

Sotheby's typically schedules its auctions during daylight hours. Most of these events are accessible to the general public at no cost, except for some evening auctions that require ticket purchase. Attending does not impose any obligation to place bids.[64]

The bidding concludes once only a single participant remains willing to pay the final bid amount for the lot. At this point, the auctioneer declares the lot sold by "knocking down" the hammer to the successful bidder. The final bid amount is also known as the hammer price. Sotheby's coordinates private delivery arrangements for the purchased item with the buyer.

Buying

Prospective buyers can explore Sotheby's offerings through electronic catalogues, attend pre-auction viewings, purchase printed catalogues, and subscribe to email notifications.[65] Registration is required to participate in bidding either in person at Sotheby's offices or via online platforms. Proof of identity issued by a government authority and occasionally a bank reference are prerequisites for registration. Bidding methods include attending auctions physically, telephone bidding, live online bidding, or submitting absentee bids online. Upon winning a bid, Sotheby's calculates the total cost by adding the hammer price, applicable buyer's premium, and taxes.

Selling

Sellers must complete an Auction Estimate Form that details comprehensive information and includes a photograph of the item offered. After acceptance for auction, a contract is signed between Sotheby's and the seller outlining the reserve price and seller's commission.[66] If bidding fails to meet or exceed the reserve price set by the seller, the item remains unsold.

Service categories

File:HK Central Landmark 朱銘 Ju Ming art exhibition interior Sotheby's.JPG
HK Central Landmark 朱銘 Ju Ming art exhibition interior Sotheby's

As of April 2021, Sotheby's provides a range of services including:[67]

  • Advisory
  • Fiduciary client group
  • Global partnerships
  • Financial services/lending
  • Fine art storage
  • Post sale services
  • Private sales
  • Restitution
  • Scientific research
  • Tax, heritage and UK museums
  • Valuations
  • Wine advisory services
Private sales

When sellers prefer not to use public auctions, Sotheby's facilitates private transactions by connecting them discreetly with potential buyers. The identities of both buyers and consignors remain confidential.[68] Operating with discretion, Sotheby's Private Sales tailors buying and selling processes to suit client privacy needs. In 2011, Private Sales represented 16.5% of Sotheby's total sales.[69] That same year saw the opening of S2, a dedicated gallery space at Sotheby’s York Avenue headquarters showcasing private sale artworks such as those by American abstract artist Sam Francis. Unlike Haunch of Venison, which Christie's acquired in 2007 as a gallery, S2 exclusively exhibits pieces related to Sotheby’s private sales.[70] In 2013, a new gallery dedicated to private sales was launched near Sotheby’s London branch at 31 George Street in a five-story building.[71] Additionally, private sales are conducted through exhibitions featuring monumental sculptures at locations such as Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, and at Singapore Botanic Gardens.[71]

Financial services

Founded in 1988, Sotheby’s Financial Services provides loans secured against consigned property or clients’ valuable items under customized terms.[72] The firm also offers term loans for fixed durations on artworks clients do not intend to sell immediately—partly aimed at fostering ongoing relationships that may result in future consignments.[73] Although traditional banks typically offer loans at lower interest rates, Sotheby’s highlighted in its 2011 annual report that few lenders accept artwork as sole collateral.[73]

Picture library

The Sotheby’s Picture Library offered licensing access to images in multiple formats,[74] serving as an image provider for various databases including the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA).[75][76] However, as of as of April 2021, the only image archive referenced on Sotheby’s website pertains to the Cecil Beaton Studio Archive,[77] which was acquired from Cecil Beaton in 1977.[78]

Wine

In October 2019, Sotheby’s introduced Sotheby’s Own Label Collection, featuring twelve distinct wines. This initiative took two years to develop and is inspired by their top-selling wines available both in-store and through their e-commerce platform. The collection also reflects longstanding collaborations with global wine producers.[79] Since 1988, The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, authored by Tom Stevenson, has been published in multiple editions.

Other

Since November–December 2018, Sotheby’s has been publishing a bimonthly digital periodical titled Sotheby’s Magazine.[80]

Sotheby's Institute of Art

Main article: Sotheby's Institute of Art

Established in 1969 by Sotheby's in London, Sotheby's Institute of Art now provides fully accredited master's degree programs alongside a variety of online and alternative courses.[81][82]

Sotheby's International Realty

Main article: Sotheby's International Realty

Founded in 1976 by Sotheby's, Sotheby's International Realty operates as a franchise specializing in luxury real estate.

RM Sotheby's

Main article: RM Sotheby's

RM Sotheby's, formerly known as RM Auctions, is a classic car dealership with its headquarters in Canada and offices throughout the United States and Europe. Since 2015, Sotheby's has held partial ownership of the company.

Sotheby's Prize

Introduced in 2017, the Sotheby's Prize was an annual $250,000 award recognizing museums that presented what were broadly termed "innovative exhibitions".[83] The first recipients included Many Tongues: Art, Language and Revolution in the Middle East and South Asia, curated by Omer Kholeif at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and Pop América: Contesting Freedom, 1965–1975, curated by Esther Gabara at the Nasher Museum of Art.[83] The program was discontinued in 2020 after fulfilling its commitments to exhibitions still underway.[84]

Auctioned artwork

Template:More citations needed section

File:Hispano J12 1933 coach Pourtout - Sotheby's 1989.jpg
Hispano J12 1933 coach Pourtout—Sotheby's 1989

Sotheby’s has repeatedly established and then surpassed various global auction records for art sales. The following figures are expressed in United States dollars.

  • On 22 May 2002, the original painting Rosie the Riveter by Norman Rockwell sold for $4.96 million.[85]
  • On 3 May 2006, Sotheby’s auctioned Pablo Picasso’s Dora Maar au Chat for $95 million, marking it as the second-highest auction price for artwork at that time.
  • On 7 June 2007, a Roman bronze sculpture titled Artemis and the Stag sold for $28.6 million at Sotheby’s, setting a record as the most expensive sculpture and antiquity ever auctioned then.
  • Sotheby’s holds the record for the priciest contemporary artwork sold at auction with Mark Rothko’s White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) from 1950 fetching $72.8 million in May 2007.
  • In November 1986, Sotheby’s set a new benchmark for the highest auction price achieved by a living artist when Jasper Johns’ Out the Window reached $17 million—the first work by a living artist to exceed $10 million.
    • Over time, Sotheby’s and Christie's exchanged this record multiple times; Sotheby’s regained it with Jeff Koons’ Hanging Heart (Magenta/Gold) which sold for $23.6 million in November 2007.
    • Again reclaiming this title on 12 October 2012, Sotheby’s sold Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (809–4), part of his Abstraktes Bilder series from 1994, for $34 million—the first living artist’s work to surpass $30 million at auction.
  • On 6 December 2007, the Guennol Lioness, a limestone lion measuring just over three inches and dating back approximately 5,000 years from ancient Mesopotamia, was sold for $57 million—a record price for any sculpture at auction.[86]
  • On 15 December 2007, one of only seven handwritten and illustrated copies of J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard was auctioned for a hammer price of $3.8 million. Six copies were gifted to Rowling's close acquaintances; this seventh edition was sold with proceeds benefiting The Children's Voice charity.[87]
  • On 19 December 2007, a privately held copy of the Magna Carta—one of only seventeen known copies—was sold for $21.3 million.[88]
  • On 3 February 2010, Alberto Giacometti's sculpture L'Homme qui marche I sold for $103.7 million during a London auction, setting a new world record for art sold at auction.[89]
  • A version of Edvard Munch's The Scream was sold on 2 May 2012 for $119.9 million.
  • The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication watch became the most expensive timepiece ever sold at auction when it reached $23.98 million in Geneva on 11 November 2014.[90]
  • On 2 June 2016 in London, Pablo Picasso's Femme Assise fetched $63.7 million at auction—establishing it as the highest-priced Cubist painting ever sold.[91]
  • On 10 July 2018 in London, E.H. Shepard's original illustrated map from the opening pages of A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, dating from 1926 and depicting the Hundred Acre Wood, achieved £430,000 ($600,000), setting an auction record for book illustrations.[92]
  • Banksy’s "Girl with a Balloon" partially shredded itself immediately after selling on October 5, 2018. The artwork was subsequently resold under the title "Love is in the Bin" for £18.5 million—a new artist record surpassing his previous high of £16.5 million set earlier that year.[93]
  • Claude Monet’s Meules was sold on May 14, 2019 for more than $110 million.[94]
  • On October 25, 2021, eleven Picasso paintings previously owned by Steve Wynn were auctioned off in a Las Vegas pop-up salesroom for a total of $109 million.[95]
  • Freddie Mercury’s Yamaha baby grand piano—used to compose iconic Queen tracks including "Bohemian Rhapsody"—sold on September 6, 2023 for £1.7 million ($2.1 million), which Sotheby’s cites as an unprecedented price for a composer’s piano.[96] The month-long London exhibition titled Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own featured nearly 1,500 items from Mercury’s estate across six auctions that collectively raised £39.9 million ($50.4 million), surpassing previous records held by David Bowie.[97][98]

Sneaker sales

In recent years, Sotheby's has expanded its offerings to include sneakers, featuring both classic models available through a "buy-now" sneaker boutique,[99] as well as exclusive, high-value pairs—some previously owned by celebrities—sold via auction. These sneaker auctions have attracted a substantial influx of new clients to Sotheby's, including individuals as young as 19 and collectors from around the globe.[100] Significant record-breaking sales at auction include:

Fossils

File:FMNH SUE Trex.jpg
Sue (FMNH 2081) exhibited at the Field Museum of Natural History.

In October 1997, Sotheby's conducted the auction of Sue, recognized as the largest and most intact Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton worldwide. Despite concerns from academic paleontologists that this specimen might become privately owned and inaccessible to scientific study, financial backing from affluent supporters including The Walt Disney Company and McDonald's enabled the Field Museum of Natural History to secure the skeleton for over $8 million.[106][107] Since the sale of Sue, Sotheby's has been at the center of debates regarding the commercialization of fossils with significant scientific value. Each subsequent high-profile fossil sale at Sotheby's has reignited these discussions.[108][109][110]

On December 9, 2022, Sotheby's sold a remarkably complete T. rex skull named Maximus for more than $6 million.[108][111]

On July 17, 2024, Sotheby's achieved a new auction milestone by selling Apex, considered the most complete Stegosaurus skeleton known, for US$44.5 million. This transaction set a global record for any dinosaur fossil or skeleton sold at auction up to that point.[112] The purchaser, Kenneth Griffin, has placed the specimen on temporary loan to the American Museum of Natural History.[113]

In June 2025, Sotheby's announced plans to auction a highly preserved Ceratosaurus specimen—one of only a few known examples and uniquely identified as a juvenile. This skeleton was originally obtained from Utah's Museum of Ancient Life.[110][114]

Jewellery

On 9 July 2021, Sotheby's achieved a landmark sale by auctioning a 101.38-carat diamond for $12.3 million, with the payment made in cryptocurrency. This transaction marked the highest price ever paid publicly for a tangible item using cryptocurrency at that time.

Porcelain

File:明成化 景德鎮窯鬥彩雞缸杯-Chicken Cup MET 1987 85 2015AT 001 (cropped).jpg
Chenghua chicken cup from Jingdezhen ware; displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

In recent years, Sotheby's has emerged as the foremost auction house for premier Chinese porcelain, predominantly through its sales in Hong Kong. On 3 October 2017, a Ru ware brush-washer dish measuring 13 cm (5 in) in diameter set a new record for Chinese ceramics at Sotheby's Hong Kong, fetching HK$294.3 million—equivalent to nearly US$38 million. Previously, on 4 April 2012, Sotheby's Hong Kong sold another Ru ware brush-washer bowl, slightly larger at 13.6 cm across and part of a pair with one held by the British Museum, for HK$207,860,000 (approximately US$26.7 million). This sale established a new auction record for ceramics from the Song dynasty. The piece had been part of a Japanese collection before belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Clark in London.

The exceptionally rare Chenghua chicken cups have only recently appeared at Sotheby's auctions. On August 8, 2014, during a seven-auction series of Chinese ceramics in Hong Kong, a Chenghua chicken cup from the private Meiyintang collection sold for a record-breaking US$36.05 million (HK$281.24 million) to Shanghai billionaire Liu Yiqian. This set the highest auction price ever recorded for any Chinese porcelain piece. The previous record was held by a Qing Dynasty vase that sold for US$32.4 million in 2010. Notably, the Chicken Cup had been estimated before sale at US$38.6 million in 2010. Prior transactions include sales in 1980 for US$1.08 million (HK$5.28 million) and again in 1999 for US$3.70 million (HK$29.17 million), each time establishing records for Chinese porcelain prices.

In November 2024, an extraordinary pair of Ming Dynasty wucai fish jars from the 16th century surpassed expectations by selling for £9.6 million ($12.5 million) at auction—well above their estimated value of £1 million ($1.3 million). These jars are unique as the only surviving complete pair with their original lids intact.

Illegal antiquities

Further information: Cultural repatriation

1990s scandal

In 1991 and again in 1997, investigative reports aired on ITV's The Cook Report and Channel 4's Dispatches accused Sotheby's of dealing in antiquities lacking disclosed provenance, and alleged the company maintained relationships with dealers implicated in the smuggling of artifacts. During the late 1980s to early 1990s, the London antiquities division was overseen by Brendan Lynch and Oliver Forge. Lynch frequently visited India, acquiring unprovenanced items from Vaman Ghiya in Rajasthan, which were later identified as stolen from temples and archaeological sites. British historian and journalist Peter Watson documented these illicit dealings in his 1997 book Sotheby's: The Inside Story and brought the issue to light on CBS's 60 Minutes. Following this revelation, Sotheby's initiated an internal investigation into illegal antiquities and pledged to restrict future sales exclusively to legal objects with verified provenance. The company also halted its regular Asian art auctions in London, announcing that such sales would henceforth be conducted solely in New York City, where authentication processes were better controlled. Although Forge and Lynch were dismissed from their roles, they faced no criminal charges and subsequently established a consultancy based in London[115], continuing their trade activities.[116]

In India, Ghiya was eventually apprehended in 2003, convicted in 2008, and sentenced to life imprisonment; however, his conviction was overturned by an Indian High Court in 2014. Some of the illicit Asian artifacts ended up at the National Gallery of Australia, from where an item known as "Dancing Shiva" was later transferred to the Art Gallery of South Australia.[116] After concerns surfaced and an investigation commenced in 2014, it was determined that the piece was most likely stolen,[117] leading to its return to India in 2019.[118]

Cambodian Sculpture Controversy (2012)

In 2012, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated action to confiscate a sandstone statue from the 10th century, originating from Cambodia, which was being auctioned by Sotheby's.[119] The agency filed a civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, accusing the auction house of offering the artifact for sale "despite having knowledge that it was stolen from a temple"[120] located in Koh Ker.[121]

Auction Price-Fixing Controversy (2000)

In February 2000, both A. Alfred Taubman and Diana (Dede) Brooks, then serving as the CEO, resigned amid revelations of a price-fixing scandal. The FBI had been probing auction house practices, uncovering evidence of collusion through agreed-upon commission rates between Sotheby's and Christie's. By October 2000, Brooks entered a guilty plea seeking leniency, which included implicating Taubman.[122][123] In December 2001, Taubman was convicted of conspiracy by a jury in a widely publicized trial held in New York City. He served ten months out of a one-year prison sentence, whereas Brooks underwent six months of home confinement and was fined US$350,000. Additionally, Sotheby's was penalized with a US$45 million fine.[124] No employees from Christie's faced charges.[125][126]

Following a four-year criminal antitrust probe conducted by the United States Department of Justice, approximately 130,000 buyers and sellers initiated a class-action lawsuit, alleging they were defrauded through the price-fixing scheme involving both auction houses.[127] In 2001, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a settlement valued at US$512 million.[128] This agreement was considered instrumental in preventing bankruptcy for both firms, particularly benefiting publicly traded Sotheby's.[129][130]

At that period, Baron Funds held ownership of 59 percent of the company's Class A shares.[131]

Mistaken Auction Attribution (2011)

On March 10, 2011, Sotheby's auctioned a pair of sconces that were mistakenly credited to Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann.

Dispute Over Artists' Authorship Rights (2012)

In 2012, art dealer Marc Jancou initiated legal action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against both Sotheby's and artist Cady Noland after the auction house withdrew a consigned artwork by Noland from a sale, reportedly at her request. The lawsuit claimed this constituted a violation of the consignment agreement. Noland had informed Sotheby's of concerns regarding the condition of her painting Cowboys Milking (1990), which had an estimated value between US$260,000 and $350,000. Jancou sought US$6 million in compensatory damages from Sotheby's and pursued US$20 million in punitive damages from Noland. Both Sotheby's and Noland maintained that the removal of the piece from auction fell within the artist's rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) as well as New York's Artists' Authorship Rights Act (AARA).

Activist Investor Conflict (2013–2014)

Between October 2013 and May 2014, Sotheby's faced pressure from activist investor Daniel S. Loeb through his hedge fund, Third Point Management, which held the largest shareholder position in the publicly traded firm. Loeb criticized various company policies and management decisions, requested three board seats for himself, Harry Wilson, and Olivier Reza, and called for the resignation of chairman and CEO Bill Ruprecht. In response to this challenge, Sotheby's implemented a "poison pill" shareholder rights plan to prevent any individual shareholder from acquiring more than 10% ownership. By April 2014, hedge fund Marcato Capital Management and advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services had aligned with most of Loeb's proposals. In early May 2014, Sotheby's and Loeb reached a settlement: the board was expanded to include Loeb's three nominees, the poison pill was rescinded, Ruprecht remained as chairman and CEO, and Third Point was permitted to raise its stake in Sotheby's to 15%.

Industrial dispute (2015)

Sotheby's auction house in London had subcontracted its cleaning and ancillary services to Contract Cleaning and Maintenance (London) Limited (CCML). At the start of 2015, the UVW union launched a formal industrial dispute focusing on inadequate wages, poor sick pay provisions, and additional concerns outlined in an Early Day Motion endorsed by 24 Members of Parliament, which drew attention to:[132]

the unjust suspension of a porter following his complaint about mistreatment, the continued use of harmful chemicals causing respiratory problems, chest pain, and skin rashes among cleaners, unlawful deductions from wages and working hours, excessive workloads paired with verbal abuse directed at porters and cleaners, penalizing a porter for using the restroom outside designated breaks, and threatening suspension of a cleaner for not being clean-shaven

After CCML agreed to most of UVW's requests, Sotheby's opted to transfer all support service contracts to a new provider, Servest. However, this move prompted UVW to organize a loud, sit-in demonstration at Sotheby's entrance[133] as clients arrived for an unprecedented summer evening of contemporary art auctions featuring pieces by Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon.[134] Following the protest, four employees were suspended pending investigation,[135] which triggered another Early Day Motion supported by 42 MPs condemning:[136]

Sotheby's and Servest's classification of peaceful protest as misconduct; further denouncing Sotheby's decision to bar cleaners and porters who participated in a lawful, peaceful demonstration advocating for a genuine Living Wage, contractual sick pay, and an end to union victimisation

With only two of the suspended workers reinstated, UVW organized another disruption at Sotheby's classic car auction held in Battersea, London.[137] By February 2016, Sotheby's and Servest reached a settlement agreeing to compensate all outsourced employees with the London Living Wage alongside enhanced sick pay benefits.[138]

Controversies Surrounding Yves Bouvier (2016–2023)

In 2016, three art dealers based in New York—Warren Adelson, president of Adelson Galleries, along with Alexander Parish and Robert Simon—intended to initiate legal action against Sotheby's, accusing the auction house of fraud connected to the resale of Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi. The trio had initially sold the painting through Sotheby's in 2013 for $80 million.[139] Upon discovering that Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier subsequently sold the same artwork to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for $127.5 million, the dealers believed Sotheby's had misrepresented the painting’s actual market value.[139] Court documents reveal that the dealers questioned whether Sotheby's was aware that the piece could have commanded a higher price and if they were "misled into selling the work for a smaller amount by Sotheby's because Bouvier is an esteemed client."[140] Sotheby's responded by filing a preemptive lawsuit, asserting full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Ultimately, the dispute between Sotheby's and the art dealers was resolved confidentially outside of court.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In a related development in 2018, Rybolovlev filed a $380 million lawsuit against Sotheby's, accusing the auction house of conspiring with Bouvier and claiming it "materially assisted the largest art fraud in history."Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name He alleged that Sotheby's vice chairman of private sales worldwide provided him with inflated appraisals while simultaneously knowing that Bouvier had acquired these artworks privately at significantly lower prices through Sotheby's.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Rybolovlev further accused Yves Bouvier of defrauding him of approximately $1 billion over several years via this scheme.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In connection with these proceedings, a 2019 New York court order compelled Sotheby's to submit documents pertinent to ongoing criminal investigations into the Bouvier Affair taking place in Switzerland and Monaco.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In March 2023, a judge in New York determined that Sotheby's must proceed to trial on fraud allegations concerning four of the fifteen artworks involved in Rybolovlev's suit: da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, Magritte’s Le Domaine d’Arnheim, Klimt’s Wasserschlangen II, and Modigliani’s Tête.[141] The court also permitted Rybolovlev to advance an aiding and abetting claim against Sotheby's specifically related to Salvator Mundi.[141] Following the judge’s recommendation, both parties consented to resolve the matter through mediation before a magistrate judge, thereby avoiding a jury trial.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Confidentiality Surrounding Nazi-Looted Art

A significant number of artworks confiscated from Jewish owners by the Nazis during the Holocaust passed through Sotheby's with incomplete or unclear provenance records.[142][143][144][145]

In 2013, a collector initiated legal action against Sotheby's after purchasing a painting with Nazi-looted origins, asserting that the disputed provenance rendered the artwork unsellable.[146][147]

Documents from Sotheby's were subpoenaed in 2016 amid a restitution claim involving a Modigliani painting.[148]

In 2017, Poland requested full disclosure from Sotheby's regarding a painting scheduled for auction, claiming it had been stolen during World War II.[149]

In 2024, a court mandated that Sotheby’s disclose the identity of the consignor who had listed an 18th-century Tiepolo painting looted from Jewish art dealer Otto Fröhlich for sale. The heirs of Fröhlich had recognized the piece titled “St. Francis of Paola Holding a Rosary, Book, and Staff” at Sotheby’s.[150]

See also

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References

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Further reading

  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Contains bibliography.
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

External links

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