Bonhams and Butterfield was a large American auction house, founded in 1865 by William Butterfield in San Francisco.
It was purchased in 1999 from Bernard Osher by online auctioneer eBay for $260 million.
In 2002, it was acquired from eBay by British auctioneer Bonhams and operated under the name Bonhams & Butterfields for about ten years. It now just goes by Bonhams.
Butterfield & Butterfield was founded in San Francisco in 1865 by William Butterfield, a former Nevada County sheriff who began by auctioning goods from ships arriving in San Francisco Bay to serve the fortunes generated by the Gold Rush. [1] [2] The auction house quickly grew a reputation for handling estate goods, consignments, and distinctive Gold Rush-era artifacts, and became an important player in San Francisco’s art and antiques market. [2] [3]
William Butterfield’s son Fred joined the firm after his father's death, and his grandson Reeder Butterfield later played an important role in the company's expansion. [1] As the West Coast and its collecting markets evolved, Butterfield & Butterfield introduced specialist departments in areas such as fine art, jewelry, Western Americana, and decorative arts. [4] The house became known for auctions of major California estates and for its role in selling high-profile collections, including works of art, estate furnishings, and Gold Rush memorabilia. [5] [6]
In 1970, businessman and art collector Bernard Osher acquired Butterfield & Butterfield. Under Osher's ownership, the company expanded its expertise, departmental organization, and reputation, opening a Los Angeles saleroom in 1988 and further developing its national and international reach. [7] [8] Butterfield & Butterfield implemented technological innovations such as online bidding and real-time remote participation in auctions during the late 1990s. [5]
The company was acquired by eBay in 1999 for approximately $260 million. [9] [10] [11] The partnership brought Butterfield’s specialist teams and appraisal services to eBay, though the blend of high-end offline and internet auctioning presented operational challenges. [12] In 2002, Butterfield & Butterfield was purchased by London-based Bonhams, which integrated the firm into its global saleroom network, operating for a time under the name Bonhams & Butterfields and expanding Bonhams’ presence on the U.S. West Coast. [2] [13]
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