Building upon a four-year presence in New York – and increasing awareness of the brand following the acquisition of West Coast auctioneers Butterfields – Bonhams are hoping to assume a much higher profile in the Big Apple with a sixth-floor, 5300 sq ft space in one of Manhattan’s landmark Art Deco buildings.
Chairman Robert Brooks sees success in the ultra-competitive New York market as key to the company’s growth. “We are in the United States for the long haul. Too many people have entered the East Coast market with short-term expectations,” he said. “As a company founded in Europe we completely understand and empathise with the essential conservatism of this oldest of American markets. We will invest the time, money and effort to demonstrate emphatically that we are here to stay.”
Bonhams New York is directed by Jon King who was previously a senior specialist at Bonhams & Butterfields’ Los Angeles office.
The first sale at the Fuller Building will be a June catalogue of 20th century decorative arts – the subject chosen for Bonhams’ first ever New York sale held last December.
Bonhams raise profile in NY
Bonhams are expanding their existing New York presence by taking gallery space at the Fuller Building, 595 Madison Ave. The new space will enable Bonhams to hold regular sales in New York beginning in the summer.
