Sothebys

Sotheby’s (known as Sotheby’s International Realty in the United States) is an international auction house founded in London, England in 1744. It specialises in fine art, antiques and collectibles. The company operates more than 80 salerooms around the world with salesrooms located throughout Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

History

In 1744 Samuel Baker established a business dealing with books on London’s Fleet Street before moving to New Bond Street four years later where he began to deal with ‘Fine Arts’ such as paintings and antiquities alongside his bookselling trade. He soon gained recognition for selling high quality works of art at auctions which became known as ‘The House of Baker & Son’ by 1778 when it was first mentioned in the press . By 1804 two sons had joined their father’s firm leading to its renaming; ‘Baker & Sons’. Following further success over many generations it eventually changed again to its current name after another son – John Wilkinson Sotheby – inherited control of the family business upon his father William’s death and officially registered it under this new titlein 1864 .

Business Model

Today Sothebys runs three main businesses: Auctioneering services , Private Salesand Art Financing . Auctions are held across all major categories including Impressionist/ Modern Art , ContemporaryArt , Old Masters Pictures&Prints along side Jewellery , Watches&Wine amongst others while Private Sales offer clients access to exclusive collections not available through public auctions allowing them direct contact with sellers who have been vetted by experts prior sale completion . Meanwhile financing helps customers purchase pieces they may otherwise struggle due financial constraints over extended periods via instalment plans or loans against collateral items from within their collection

Notable Works Sold

Over its long history several famous items have passed through Sotherbys most notably Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat sold for $2 Million USD during 2002 whilst some records remain intact since being set numerous decades ago like Vincent van Gogh painting Irises fetching £53 million GBP back 1988 making national headlines at time achieving highest price ever paid work artist up that point More recent successes include David Hockney piece Portrait Of An Artist Pool With Two Figures setting record 2018 breaking Picasso Painting Les Femmes d’Alger mark previously set 2015 both reaching sum $90 million USD each Beyond these individual highlights 2012 saw entire library belonging legendary author Laurence Sterne sell complete single lot near end year realising total £1 million GBP despite predictions originally estimated far lower amount earlier estimates