News from auction houses worldwide — evening sales, white-glove results, leadership changes.
50 stories across London, Contemporary, New York, and Modern. Latest: Artcurial to Offer Rare Toulouse-Lautrec Lithograph Proofs on May 20, 2026.
On May 19, 2026, Artcurial announced it will auction a rare set of five colour lithograph trial proofs by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec on May 20, 2026, at 5pm, as part of its "Editions and Multiples" sale.
Christie's 20th Century Evening Sale in New York achieved $287.4 million, exceeding the pre-sale estimate by 14%. The sale was led by a Picasso painting that sold for $45.7 million, and a Basquiat work that fetched $32.1 million. The auction featured 45 lots, with a sell-through rate of 91%.
Bonhams announced that Lucinda Bredin will lead the company's international communications starting in November. Bredin, currently Arts Editor of The Week and Editor of Bonhams Magazine, has edited the magazine since 2004 and contributes to the Financial Times and The Economist.
Artcurial will present The Cellar of Les Climats restaurant, Paris, through a series of dedicated auctions from October 2026.
On August 26, 2026, Christie's announced that Piet Mondrian's 'Composition III' (1920) will be a highlight of its 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on October 14, 2026, during Frieze Week.
Bonhams will offer a large selection of costume and set designs by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) in its Collections Sale, which runs online from May 20 to June 3, 2025, on bonhams.com.
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Bonhams' auction of props and costumes from the TV series 'Outlander' achieved a combined total of £729,395 across live and online sales on August 5 and 6, 2026. The 385 lots from all eight seasons were sold at Bonhams New Bond Street and on bonhams.com.
Bonhams' fourth annual The Art of Hawaiʻi sale concluded on July 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, achieving a total of $1.7 million. The auction featured Hawaiian artists and works capturing the culture and history of the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands.
Bonhams will offer a pair of important late medieval royal heraldic embroideries from the mid-to-late 15th century at its Fine Decorative Arts sale in London on 2 July 2026.
Bonhams will present The Sandy Lerner Collection, encompassing nearly 1,000 lots of fine art, collectibles, and home furnishings from the Ayrshire Farm estate of businesswoman and philanthropist Sandy Lerner.
Bonhams will hold three live sales during Asia Week New York on September 14 and 15, 2026, at its flagship galleries at 111 West 57th Street.
On March 30, 2026, Bonhams announced its New York Asia Week auctions, featuring a series of sales from March 21 to 23.
On March 15, 2026, Artcurial auctioned the Ferrari agent Fritz Neuser collection in Paris, achieving €5 million with a 100% sell-through rate across all 30 vehicles and 301 Automobilia lots.
Heritage Auctions has appointed Nick Nicholson as Deputy Chairman of Decorative Arts, a role in which he oversees divisional strategy, business development, and client relationships.
On August 27, 2026, Lempertz announced that the Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI has commissioned the auction house to sell its collection, which includes numerous works on permanent loan to German museums. Selected pieces will be offered during the forthcoming autumn season.
Joe Maddalena has joined Heritage Auctions as Executive Vice President, bringing a 35-year career as the founder of Profiles in History, the world's largest auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia.
On August 27, 2026, Phillips announced that artist Cj Hendry will present 'Mere Mortals,' a playful and nostalgic exhibition at its New York gallery, inspired by the imaginative world of trading cards and childhood toys.
Heritage Auctions has released its spring season results, showing robust performance across multiple categories. The auction house reported that total sales exceeded expectations, with several high-value lots driving revenue.
On August 12, 2026, Heritage Auctions announced the appointment of Frank Hettig as Vice President of Modern & Contemporary Art. Hettig brings over 12 years of auction experience and a reputation as a curator, critic, and connoisseur of contemporary art.
Sam Spiegel has been named Chief Operating Officer and Technology Principal at Heritage Auctions, where he oversees daily operations across all business units and leads the company's long-term technology strategy.
Heritage Auctions announced on August 25, 2026, the promotion of Aviva Lehmann to Deputy Chairman of Fine Art and Alissa to a senior leadership role in American and Western Art.
On August 11, 2026, Heritage Auctions announced the appointment of Sarah Miller as Senior Vice President and Partner at its New York office. Miller brings a lifelong passion for numismatics, having studied coins since age 11 and worked in rare coins through high school and college.
Heritage Auctions, the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house globally, has opened a new branch office in Palm Beach, Florida.
Bonhams will offer the private collection of Scandinavian art formed by Norwegian collectors Iwona and Bjarne Rieber in a single-owner sale titled 'Northern Light: Important Works from the Bjarne & Iwona Rieber Collection' on Tuesday, October 27, at Bonhams New Bond Street in London.
Bonhams concluded its Asian Art Week in London, comprising live and online auctions that ran from 8–19 May 2026, with live sales on 11–12 May at Knightsbridge and 14 May at New Bond Street.
Gooding Christie's, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, achieved over $159 million in total sales at its 22nd Pebble Beach Auctions on August 14–15, 2026, marking its highest-grossing sale to date.
Christie's Paris jewelry sale on June 29, 2026, achieved €10,505,948, doubling its pre-sale estimate and closing the luxury week in Paris after a record handbags sale. The combined total for the two sales reached €16,342,615.
Christie's announced on August 18, 2026, that a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe sold for $43 million, making it the highest-grossing American car of all time.
Bonhams concluded its Asia Week in New York with total sales of $16.96 million, the highest ever for the series. The six sales included Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art, The Maitri Collection, Chinese Works of Art, and Fine Japanese and Korean Art.
On August 24, 2026, Phillips announced a series of sales including an Editions Evening sale and an Editions Online sale, alongside London's first dedicated Modernism sale. The sales will feature a range of works spanning modern and contemporary art, with highlights yet to be detailed.
On August 12, 2026, Sotheby's announced the launch of Nightcap, a new late-night auction series in New York. The series will offer a curated selection of contemporary art, design, and luxury items in a relaxed, after-hours setting.
Bonhams achieved €15.2 million from the 28-lot Jules Speelman Collection, far surpassing a pre-sale estimate of €4.2 million. The auction was 96% sold by lot and 100% by value, with four lots exceeding €1 million.
Bonhams sold the Hope Spinel, a 50.13-carat faceted gemstone, for a record $30,000 per carat at its Fine Jewellery sale in London on September 24, 2015. The previous world record for a faceted spinel was $16,000 per carat, set in 2013.
On August 20, 2026, Lempertz announced it will auction the Jansen Collection, a comprehensive assemblage of Ludwigsburg porcelain, in an online auction running from September 10 to September 22, 2026.
Bonhams will offer a rare portrait of an African soldier in its Islamic and Indian Art sale in London on March 30, 2026.
Bonhams' Fine Gems, Opals and Lapidary Arts sale achieved $2.2 million in total sales on May 2 in Los Angeles, led by an exceptional red spinel that sold for $504,000.
On August 19, 2026, Lempertz and Artcurial announced the joint auction of the African and Oceanic art from the Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection. The first part will be presented at Artcurial in Paris on September 8, 2026, as part of Parcours des Mondes.
Bonhams announced the successful sale of The Contents of Monreith House, a historic Scottish estate of Clan Maxwell, across two auctions in July from its Edinburgh saleroom.
A rare M4 Enigma machine, designed for the German Navy during World War II, sold for $463,500 at Bonhams History of Science and Technology Sale in New York, setting a world record for the model. The fully operational machine, dating from 1943, exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $280,000-350,000.
Bonhams will offer Marie Stillman's painting 'The Last Sight of Fiammetta' in its 19th Century and British Impressionist Art sale in London on Wednesday 21 September. The work, painted in 1876, has been in the same private collection for more than 50 years and is estimated at £70,000-100,000.
Bonhams will stage three landmark Chanel auctions across New York, Paris, and London in September 2026, celebrating the house's craftsmanship and legacy. The New York sale, 'Chanel: From the Vault II,' runs September 7–17 with an exhibition from August 17 to September 2 at Bonhams' U.S.
On August 11, 2026, Phillips announced a collaboration with the artist collective KidSuper to release an edition of 50 KidSuper Studio Cases, each containing a unique original artwork.
Bonhams will present a day of sales dedicated to Prints & Multiples at New Bond Street on June 23, 2026, featuring the largest single-owner collection of Jean Cocteau ceramics ever offered at auction.
Bonhams will present a series of three live auctions at its New Bond Street saleroom in London this May and June, featuring masterworks across Islamic and Indian Art (May 21, 2026), Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art (June 2, 2026), and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art (June 4, 202.
Bonhams held a day of Prints & Multiples sales at New Bond Street on June 23, 2026, achieving a total of $2,278,475 (£1,731,180).
Bonhams will offer some of the world's rarest collector cars at its Laguna Seca Auction at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 13, with previews on August 11 and 12.
Bonhams will present its Asian Art Week in London from May 8–19, 2026, featuring live auctions at Knightsbridge on May 11–12 and at New Bond Street on May 14, complemented by four online sales.
Bonhams concluded a series of three live auctions at its New Bond Street saleroom in London this May and June, covering Islamic and Indian Art (May 21, 2026), Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art (June 2, 2026), and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art (June 4, 2026).
Bonhams|Cars has announced its Greenwich Auction, scheduled for May 31, featuring a 1991 Lamborghini Diablo estimated at $300,000–350,000 and a selection of rare Porsche 356 models.
Bonhams|Cars reported a total sale value of $5,256,664 from its National Automobile Museum Auction in Reno, Nevada, with 100% of lots sold.
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