Tennants

Tennants is a longstanding family-run auction house with a saleroom in Leyburn, North Yorkshire and offices in Harrogate and London. It also has representatives across the country.

The major expansion to its Leyburn premises in 2014 means that, in addition to its purpose-built salerooms, it also has catering, conference and events facilities.

Tennants’ sale calendar includes Fine Art Sales, Country House Sales, Modern Art and Interiors Sales, fortnightly Antiques and Interiors Sales, and other specialist sales in a range of collecting fields.


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Swinton estate sale brings a flavour of Le goût Rothschild to Yorkshire

30 September 2024

The Swinton Estate, which spans approximately 20,000 acres of North Yorkshire, has been in the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s.

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Seals of the Duchy

30 September 2024

Of numismatic interest in the Swinton sale were two George VI silver seal matrices made for the County Palatine and the Duchy of Lancaster.

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ATG Letter: Duria Antiquior plate was reason for £6000 bid

30 September 2024

Dear Sir, I read with great interest Roland Arkell's account on page 41 of ATG 2660 of the geological books which sold for £6000 at Tennants on August 23.

Irish fruitwood penal cross

18th century Irish penal cross brings demand in North Yorkshire auction

24 September 2024

Penal crosses take their name from the series of laws the restricted the rights of Roman Catholics and other nonconformists.

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Groundbreaking and influential works uncover Yorkshire geology

16 September 2024

The most eagerly contested lot of the Books, Maps and Manuscripts Sale at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) on August 23 was one comprising two volumes containing influential works on geology and palaeontology by John Phillips (1800-74) and William Buckland (1784-1856).

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More orphanage samplers in demand as hand-worked textiles prove sought-after

27 August 2024

Tennants’ Fashion, Costume and Textiles Sale held on August 16 provided many hammer highlights.

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Lock from Florence Nightingale encapsulates the diverse lots in a North Yorkshire auction

12 August 2024

One of the more unusual items on offer at Tennants’ (20% buyer’s premium) Summer Fine Sale was a lock of hair from the 19th century nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). It was thought to have been cut in 1883 when she was 63 years old.

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Sir Alfred Munnings work trots back to rostrum 20 years later

12 August 2024

Oil sketch appears at auction two decades on but overall the artist’s premium works are in short supply

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Vendor chuffed as collection of British Railways photos pulls into Tennants

27 May 2024

'Large and comprehensive' was the apt description used by Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) for a collection of British Railways photographs and slides offered on April 3.

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Polyphon music box and cello in tune at auction

27 May 2024

“An impressively sized fine and rare” coin-operated upright 22in Polyphon Disk Musical Box-on-Discbin sold for £5500 in Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) Scientific & Musical Instruments Sale on May 15.

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Fantin-Latour roses rise to a regional high point

06 May 2024

Oil on canvas showing favoured subject of the artist takes top spot so far in UK sales outside London

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Cistern used for wine doubles up as racing trophy

22 April 2024

A substantial piece of Edwardian silver which has served both as a wine cistern and a racing trophy was the most expensive piece of silver in Tennants’ (24/20% buyer’s premium) dedicated auction of jewellery, watches and silver.

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Right time and place for Lowry

08 April 2024

A strong provenance is always desirable on the secondary market, but it is essential when it comes to selling works by LS Lowry (1887-1976) - arguably Britain’s most faked artist.

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Bravery of mine defusers recognised by George medals and crosses

01 April 2024

George Medals were awarded to military recipients for bravery not in the face of the enemy, so bomb or mine disposal is a classic reason.

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Mouseman wedding gift shows the attraction of early pieces

25 March 2024

Two sales of the classic furniture include items featuring direct family history

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Well heeled in the 18th century – ladies’ shoes sell for four figures in North Yorkshire auction

04 March 2024

When it comes to period costume antique footwear can often command some of the strongest prices.

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Auction house hails ‘incredibly busy and buoyant’ start to the new year

05 February 2024

North Yorkshire saleroom starts 2024 with 2600 lots offered over two weeks in four auctions

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Piper pops up at auction and Lowry lines up for sale

05 February 2024

A couple of works by leading names in the sector gave a boost to Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British and Irish Art sale.

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Thumbs up to Newton view of Kent Downs

18 December 2023

Up in North Yorkshire, it was a view of a landscape down south that led Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) British, European & Sporting Art sale.

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Happy to have got your goat? Yes, three in fact

27 November 2023

In Chinese symbolism, three goats shown together are representative of the New Year, bringing a change of fortune (sanyang kaitai).

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