By Sotheby's
Every object that passes through Sotheby's doors has a story. Sometimes that story begins generations ago in a manor house or a Far Eastern imperial collection. Sometimes it starts more recently, in an attic discovery or an estate inheritance. What unites all these narratives is the moment a consignor decides to share their treasure with the world.
Our online consignment portal has transformed the way people approach selling. Rather than requiring an in-person appointment — though we always welcome those — potential consignors can now upload photographs and details of their objects from anywhere in the world. A specialist reviews each submission and provides an initial assessment within five business days.
The journey from consignment to hammer fall involves our valuation team, cataloguers, conservators, marketers, and client services specialists. Each auction lot receives individual attention: researched, photographed, written up, and presented to the global collector community through our preview events, online listings, and printed catalogue.
The stories that emerge from this process continue to surprise even our most experienced specialists. A watercolor discovered behind a wall during renovation turned out to be a lost work by a 19th-century master. A piece of jewelry assumed to be costume proved, on examination, to be set with natural stones of exceptional quality. These revelations remind us why this work remains endlessly fascinating.