Owain Lloyd, Geoffrey Crofts and Daniel Webb have launched Minster Auctions having left local auction house Brightwells when it ceased art and antiques sales earlier this year.
Minster Auctions’ directors, who have more than 80 years in combined experience between them, describe themselves as “familiar faces to many customers who have bought at antiques, fine art or general sales over the years”.
The business has opened a new saleroom on Southern Avenue in Leominster and will be holding its first Antiques and Contemporary art auction on January 13, mostly comprised of the clearance of a large country house local to the saleroom. Its first fine art auction is planned for March 10.
Crofts said the firm will have a “blend of the old and the new in our approach to auctioneering. The fundamentals of what we do are unchanged, putting together sales and attracting both buyers and sellers.
“But of course, online viewing and bidding is now paramount so setting up the business from scratch has given us the opportunity to create a blend of real people service and advice along with online technology.”
Brightwells, founded in 1846 (for many years the company traded as Russell Baldwin & Bright), now focuses on auctions of plant and machinery, cars, wine and spirits.
