Freeman's

Freeman’s, the oldest auction house in the US, was founded as a family run business in 1805 with headquarters in Philadelphia.

It remained in the hands of the Freeman family for six generations until a management buyout in 2016 and established a marketing alliance with Lyon & Turnbull in the UK.

The company later merged with fellow US saleroom Hindman to form Freeman's Hindman with the first sales under the new brand held in early 2024.


img_36-2.jpg

Variations on a theme

05 October 2020

On October 21, Freeman’s in Philadelphia will mark Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday by offering a collection of 12 portrait bronzes of the composer by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929).

img_42-2.jpg

Garden seating selection offered at Freeman’s

07 September 2020

This three-piece painted cast-iron garden seating set dated to the third quarter of the 19th century is one of the lots from the Collection of A Connecticut Gentleman that is to be offered for sale by Freeman’s of Philadelphia, on September 15.

img_19-2.jpg

Modernist jeweller makes his Marx at Philadelphia auction

17 August 2020

A collection of over 30 pieces by the Brazilian modernist jeweller Haroldo Burle Marx will be a focus of the August 20 Boutique Jewels auction to be held by Freeman’s in Philadelphia.

img_22-4.jpg

Kipling first edition equals auction record thanks to author’s signature

13 July 2020

The gilt decorated blue cloth binding showed signs of age, but a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s 'Captains Courageous, A Story of the Grand Banks' offered in a Philadelphia sale bore the author’s signature on the title-page.

img_34-3.jpg

Georg Jensen brooch offered at Philadelphia auction

22 June 2020

This Danish silver, amber and agate brooch from c.1915 by Georg Jensen will feature in the art and design sale to be held by Freeman’s of Philadelphia on June 26.

img_38_1.jpg

Wide-ranging PG Wodehouse collection in Philadelphia features both popular and less well-known works

26 May 2020

Diligently researched and documented by a local collector, the late William Toplis, a wide-ranging PG Wodehouse collection offered by Freeman’s of Philadelphia featured books, manuscripts, artwork and much more besides.

img_16-3.jpg

Meissen Whiplash dinner service catches the eye at Freeman’s

04 May 2020

Freeman’s (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) of Philadelphia opened its latest Design sale with a Meissen Whiplash dinner service designed in 1903-4 by Henry Van de Velde, the Belgian Art Nouveau architect and designer.

img_46-2.jpg

Freeman's flagship gallery off to fine launch

09 March 2020

First auction to be held in Freeman’s new Philadelphia site topped by Degas and Van Gogh

img_38-4.jpg

Boudin down on the farm

10 February 2020

This 14 x 10¾in (35.5 x 27cm) oil on canvas by Eugène Boudin (1824-98) will feature in Freeman’s sale of European Art and Old Masters in Philadelphia on February 18.

img_40-3.jpg

Mark Twain in the frame as carte de visite emerges in Philadelphia

20 January 2020

This carte de visite picturing the author Mark Twain (Samuel L Clemens) is signed and inscribed twice.

Elstob & Elstob open new auction  site in Ripon.jpg

New faces, locations and auction schedules - the latest Movers and Shakers across the art and antiques market

08 January 2020

An update from across the world of art and antiques including a new joiner at Duke’s and a new saleroom for Elstob & Elstob.

Carlton_House_Terrace.jpg

New auction formats and salerooms - the latest Movers and Shakers across the art and antiques market

17 September 2019

Industry news from across the auction houses and dealers.

img_45-1.jpg

Freeman’s new premises underlines vision for firm's future in Philadelphia says chairman

16 September 2019

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

img_45-3.jpg

The international dimension and Scottish connections at Freeman's

16 September 2019

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.

img_41-1.jpg

Big in America: Regional auction houses’ latest moves lead our market review

16 September 2019

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.

Outside Freeman's in July 2019 - 1.jpg

Freeman’s of Philadelphia moves to modern salerooms

14 September 2019

America’s venerable auction house is relocating to contemporary gallery and auction room space.

img_51-2.jpg

From Doncaster to Philadelphia: 18th century racing trophy offered at Freemans

10 June 2019

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

img_41-1.jpg

Micromosaic panels in two US auctions

13 May 2019

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

img_49-2.jpg

Hollywood talent agent Jeff Hunter's collection produces a white-glove sale

01 April 2019

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.

Flemish painting

Rare Flemish Old Master sells for more than $2m at auction in Philadelphia as Freeman's confirm premises move

01 March 2019

A total of 18 phones competed for a rare devotional painting offered by a New York institution at Freeman’s in Philadelphia this week.

News

Categories