Sotheby's

Sotheby's is a multinational corporation, originally British but now headquartered in New York City. One of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewelry, real estate, and collectibles, Sotheby's operation is divided into three segments: auction, finance, and dealer. The company’s services range from corporate art services to private sales.

Sotheby’s is the world’s fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation, with 90 locations in 40 countries. As of December 2011, the company had 1,446 employees worldwide. It is the world's largest art business with global sales in 2011 totaling $5.8 billion.

Sotheby’s was established on 11 March 1744 in London. The American holding company was initially incorporated in August 1983 in Michigan. In June 2006, Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. reincorporated in the State of Delaware and was renamed Sotheby’s.

History

Beginnings

Sotheby's predecessor, Baker and Leigh, was founded in London on 11 March 1744, when Samuel Baker presided over the disposal of "several hundred scarce and valuable" books from the library of Rt Hon Sir John Stanley Bt., of Alderley. Three Swedish auction houses are even older (Stockholms Auktionsverk, Göteborgs Auktionsverk, Uppsala auktionskammare) and Sotheby's great rival in London and then New York, Christie's, dates from 1759 or shortly after. The current business dates back to 1804, when two of the partners of the original business (Leigh and Sotheby) left to set up their own book dealership. The library Napoleon took with him into exile at St Helena, as well as the library collections of John Wilkes, Benjamin Heywood Bright and the Dukes of Devonshire and of Buckingham (both related to George Leigh) were sold through Samuel Baker’s auctions.

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Latest News for: sotheby’s

Sotheby’s to auction rare Islamic arms and armor collection 

Arab News 25 Mar 2025
Updated 39 sec ago. Arab News. March 25, 2025 13.41. .

Can Hong Kong Maintain Its Status as the Asia-Pacific Region’s Leading Art Hub?

New York Observer 25 Mar 2025
Meanwhile, Phillips and Sotheby’s will take the rostrum the following night with their seasonal modern and contemporary evening sales, featuring a strong mix of international blue-chip works and standout regional names.

E.T. go home … with the highest bidder

Digital Trends 24 Mar 2025
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Observer’s Must-See Exhibitions During Art Basel Hong Kong

New York Observer 24 Mar 2025
Just last summer, Sotheby’s opened its highly anticipated luxury venue in Central, with its boutique-like, cross-category experience designed to attract the young wealth in the region ... The best art exhibitions to see in Hong Kong ... Marten Elder ... .

Truckload of 6 low-mile Porsche 911s for auction—truck included

Driving 24 Mar 2025
It's happening at the end of April, in fact, when Ontario, Canada-headquartered RM Sotheby's will offer up in a ...

Private Island Comes on the Market in Italy

New York Times 22 Mar 2025
The sale of an island just off the coast of Bacoli, near Naples, has pit the quest for a rich investor against a more communal alternative ... .

Ultra-rare $20m diamond coming to Abu Dhabi

Arabian Business 20 Mar 2025
‘The Mediterranean Blue’ diamond worth an estimated $20m to be displayed in Abu Dhabi ....

The Lisa Schiff Question: Does 2.5 Years in Jail Balance $6.5 Million in Fraud

New York Observer 20 Mar 2025
Lisa Schiff in 2019. Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images ... Sign Up ... They claimed Schiff failed to pay out proceeds from the $2.5 million sale of an Adrian Ghenie painting at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, withholding a $1.8 million fee ... SEE ALSO ... .

High-end property broker Sotheby’s enters Philippine market

The Philippine Star 19 Mar 2025
Luxury real estate service firm Sotheby’s International Realty has entered the Philippine market through the launch of its local affiliate as it sees opportunities in the country ....

Original body model of ET expected to fetch up to $1m at Sotheby’s

The Guardian 19 Mar 2025
... to fetch up to $1m (£700,000) when it is sold at Sotheby’s auction house at in April.
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