Sotheby’s
FROM BOOKBUYING TO FRANCIS BACON
In 1744, English bookseller Samuel Baker held his first auction, making $1,600 from the sale of 457 books. From these humble beginnings, the auction house Sotheby’s has grown to become the world’s third oldest auction house in continuous operation. Baker’s nephew John Sotheby guided the burgeoning auction house in the 19th century into a world-class book seller. They soon branched out into art and antiques after the dissolution of the English aristocracy and landed elite during World War I. As a result of the breakup of Britain’s vast country estates, Sotheby’s began to receive commissions to auction the contents of many country houses.
From its humble beginnings as a London-based antique bookseller, Sotheby’s sells everything from fine art and antiques to real estate.
By mid-century, Sotheby’s expanded to America, with an office in New York City, and continued buying up lesser auction houses, spreading itself around the globe. Today, Sotheby’s thrives, despite the economic downturns of the 1990s, and has more than 100 offices worldwide. The auction house also holds several world records, including the most expensive painting and work of art ever sold at auction (Pablo Picasso’s Garçon à la Pipe at $104 million US) and the most expensive work of contemporary art sold at auction with British artist Francis Bacon’s Triptych, which sold for $86.28 million US in 2008. —SBR