Forum, established earlier this year by former owner and CEO of Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions Stephan Ludwig, will now be the trading name for auctions in Rome, New York and Milan.
The firm has launched a new website called forumauctions.it, an Italian language site linked to the main Forum Auctions website.
The first two Italian Forum sales of books and works on paper will be in Rome on October 27, accompanied by a timed online-only auction on November 10 in which the majority of lots will be offered without reserve with prices starting at €5.
The books and works on paper specialist has also launched a jewellery and watches department in Rome with the first sale to be held on November 30 at The Westbury Hotel in London’s Mayfair, which has become Forum’s regular sales venue for catalogued sales.
Ludwig originally agreed a tie-up with Rotundo when he ran Dreweatts & Bloomsbury auctions.
He said: “Filippo and I have a long established relationship, going back to when we began a joint venture in 2010.”
Forum’s staff – and Rotundo – are founding shareholders in Forum.
It is expected that Forum will eventually complete a deal to buy the auction assets of Phiobiblon next year with Rotundo increasing his stake in Forum as part of the agreement.
Philobiblon will continue to trade in its own name for both Contemporary art exhibitions, retail and private treaty transactions.
