Freeman's

After more than 210 years in business, Freeman’s of Philadelphia can claim a long and distinguished history in a changing US market. Its latest move – a physical one – underscores the firm’s future, chairman Alasdair Nichol tells ATG

Freeman’s enjoys a strong Scottish connection, embodied in the firm’s current chairman, Edinburgh-born Alasdair Nichol, whose accent has diluted not one jot in the 25 years he has lived and worked in the US.

In the US (the world’s single biggest art market) just like in the UK (the world’s second largest), positives have been taken from the much-documented changing focus of the international auction houses.

This silver-gilt Doncaster Cup racing trophy has hallmarks for Daniel Smith and Robert Sharp for 1767.

These two 19th century micromosaic panels feature in different US auctions this month.

It was a white-glove result for the 49-lot auction of the collection of Jeff Hunter offered by Freeman’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Philadelphia on March 13.

A 49-lot sale of antiquities, Asian and tribal art from the collection of New York and Hollywood talent agent Jeff Hunter goes under the hammer at Freeman’s in Philadelphia on March 13.

A small but select auction of just 44 lots of paintings spanning 500 years from Old Masters to 20th century works will go under the hammer at Freeman’s on February 27.

Eleven years after John Kennedy Toole committed suicide, fellow writer Walker Percy was the man who ensured that his only book, A Confederacy of Dunces, finally got into print.

Following more than a century of art market activity, opportunities now abound to buy traditional European art and antiques in the US

If pictures provided the backbone of the Dodo Hamilton collection, then there was no denying the sale’s most popular entries: a large selection of polychrome painted rattan and wicker conservatory furniture, perfect for the Florida beach house.

Unusual in the post-internet age, Freeman’s first-floor gallery in downtown Philadelphia was standing room-only for the April 29 auction of the collection of Dorrance ‘Dodo’ Hill Hamilton (1928-2017).

As well as the ‘big three’, a clutch of other US salerooms will be holding specialist Asian art sales in mid March.

London is to host a viewing of a small oil painting by Paul Cézanne ahead of its sale in the US.