Stockholms Auktionsverk was founded in 1674, on the initiative of Baron Claes Rålamb, who was Governor of Stockholm at that time. As such, we are the oldest auction house in the world still operating today. We have sold items in styles now known as Baroque, Rococo and Gustavian while they were contemporary. Our list of distinguished customers over the centuries features names such as King Karl XI, King Gustav III, our Swedish national bard Carl Michael Bellman, and authors August Strindberg and Selma Lagerlöf.
Today, Stockholms Auktionsverk is a leading Nordic marketplace for art, crafts, and antiques from a variety of ages and epochs. Stockholms Auktionsverk has auction houses in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Helsingborg, as well is in Finland and Germany.
Stockholms Auktionsverk is a “stock exchange trading floor” for Swedish and international art, antiques, and design. Our business is built on confidence, knowledge, tradition, and personal contacts. Our staff are highly educated experts in a range of specialist areas, different cultures and historical periods in art, applied art and antiques. Since May 2021, Stockholms Auktionsverk is owned by Auctionet. Our network of Swedish and international customers, dealers, and collectors is large and constantly growing.
On February 27, Stockholms Auktionsverk celebrates its 350th anniversary, marking a historic milestone for the world’s oldest auction house. Founded on the initiative of Baron Claes Rålamb – governor-general of Stockholm and a pioneer in the auction world – who issued the founding auction chamber ordinance in 1674.
“Over the years, Stockholms Auktionsverk has been a staple marketplace, but also a meeting place for Stockholmers and, in recent years, for the rest of the world as well. With us, items have changed hands for 350 years; someone’s unwanted possessions become someone else’s beloved treasures. We have auctioned off some of the country’s finest art treasures, which not only represent significant monetary value but are also highly valued on a cultural-historical level. Works that manage to capture the Swedish soul, art that is an honor to be around but also constitute important work for us to preserve for future generations,” says Victoria Svederberg, head of the art department at Stockholms Auktionsverk.
For three and a half centuries, Stockholms Auktionsverk has been a focal point for extraordinary artworks and antiques – each a small part of history. When Anders Zorn’s “Omnibus” was sold to the National Museum for 1.2 million SEK in 1981, it was the most expensive Swedish painting ever auctioned. However, the most famous painting ever sold at Stockholms Auktionsverk is Rembrandt’s “Kökspigan” from 1651. During the 18th century, it was owned by Eva Bielke, but after her passing it was sold at Stockholms Auktionsverk in 1779, along with several other artworks, to a new renowned owner – King Gustav III, who received the royal privilege to choose first from the private art collection auctioned at Stockholms Auktionsverk in 1779. In 1866, “Kökspigan” was transferred to the National Museum’s collections, where it still resides.
Behind the doors at Nybrogatan 32 stands the clock that has signaled auctions at Stockholms Auktionsverk for 310 years. From 1727, the bell was used to summon the public to auctions twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. After 1858, the number of days doubled, and during the peak seasons – now referred to as the spring and fall auction seasons – auctions could take up to six days of the week. The auction chamber was state-run and operated between 1674 and 1790 from Själagårdsgatan 19 in the Old Town. In 1790, it moved to the Polus house on Myntgatan and in 1836, further to Birger Jarls torg on Riddarholmen, where it remained for over a century. In 1949, it moved to the Bonnier house on Torsgatan, ten years later to Norrtullsgatan 6, and in 1977 to Stockholm city and Beridarebansgatan in the premises under the Gallerian. In 2002, it moved to its current location at Nybrogatan 32.
Country: Sweden
Year: 1674
Date:
Source: https://www.auktionsverket.com/en/our-history/
History of Auctioneering
Holiday Inn Convention Center, Stevens Point, WI
Country:
Year: 2018
Date: January 28
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The longest auction by one single auctioneer (duration) is 24 hours and 6 minutes and was achieved by James Lewis, Bamfords and the children of Saint Anselm’s School (all UK) in Rowsley, Derbyshire, UK, on 22 June 2019.
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2019
Date: June 22
Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/210971-longest-auction-by-one-single-auctioneer-duration
John M “Jack” Reynolds Jr., age 92, of Dodgeville died on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Uplands Hills Hospital. In 1959 Jack graduated from Reich School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. He loved being an auctioneer. Jack sold household and antique auctions through Reynolds Auction Service. He auctioneered and managed three livestock markets, sold over 7000 sales over 42 years in the livestock business even making the millionaires club by selling $21 million worth of livestock in 1980 at markets in Fennimore and Shullsburg.
Jack sold the first video livestock auction in 1985 garnering attention throughout the state and country for the innovative process. He was active in the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association and National Auctioneers Association; participated in the World Championship Auctioneers Contest In 1973; and served as a judge in the World Championship Auctioneers Contest in 1976 and 1980.
Country: United States
Year: 2019
Date: June 22
Source: https://www.houckfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/John-M-Jack-Reynolds?obId=17767200
The oldest cognac sold at auction is a bottle of 1762 Gautier, which was 258 years old at the time it was purchased by Nguyen Dinh Tuan Viet (Vietnam) at a Sotheby’s auction in London, UK, on 28 May 2020.
The bottle is known as the ‘Grand Frere’ and is the largest of the three bottles of 1762 Gautier.
Country: Vietnam
Year: 2020
Date: May 28
Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/420937-oldest-cognac-sold-at-auction
R. Jerome Boge, husband, father, papa to ten grandchildren, radiation physicist, and auctioneer extraordinaire, died suddenly at home Saturday, March 21, 2020. Jerome decided to look into auctioneering as an avocation and a respite from his intense work with cancer patients. He remembered going to farm auctions with his father and always admired the auctioneer. After running a few amateur household auctions, he decided to attend a two-week course at the Reisch Worldwide School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa.
After doing some estate auctions, he decided to donate his services to charities and fund raisers. This was his way of doing community service. In over 44 years, he conducted almost 2500 benefit auctions, raising over 2 million dollars for local agencies and causes, including the La Crosse Symphony, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Pump House, St. Francis Tiny Tim, Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club, and countless others. He finished his auctioning career at the Chamber Chorale’s May Feaste in 2018. Parkinson’s sapped his energy and he no longer had the stamina to do an extended auction.
Country: United States
Year: 2020
Date: March 21
Source: https://www.blaschkeschneider.com/obituaries/r-jerome-boge
Eldon F. Schraepfer, long time area auctioneer and realtor, passed away on Monday morning, January 6, 2020 at Upland Hills Hospital in Dodgeville at the age of 86. After graduation, Eldon was engaged in farming. He began his auctioneer career in 1956 under the guidance of the late Walter Gould and James Gordon. He entered the real estate business in 1967. Eldon loved the auction and realty business, and he enjoyed all of the people he met and interacted with. He was very active in his business with memberships in the Wisconsin Auctioneers Association, where he served as President and was named Auctioneer of the Year; and the Southwest Wisconsin Realtors Association, where he also served as President and was named Realtor of the Year. Eldon and Clarice enjoyed attending many state and national auctioneer conventions throughout the years.
Country: United States
Year: 2020
Date: January 6
Source: https://themonroetimes.com/monroe-times-obituaries/eldon-f-schraepfer/
The 2020 WAA Annual Convention was held at Stevens Point Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI.
Country: United States
Year: 2020
Date: February 7
Source:
The Department of Safety and Professional Services has established an auctioneer reciprocity agreement with Ohio. Under the new agreement, Wisconsin auctioneers who pursue licensure through reciprocity will be able to handle live auctions in Ohio. This is the first new reciprocity agreement for Wisconsin auctioneers in twenty years, and Ohio is just the seventh state to recognize reciprocity for Wisconsin.
Country: United States
Year: 2020
Date: December 16
Source: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/12/16/new-agreement-creates-licensing-reciprocity-for-wisconsin-auctioneers-in-ohio/
The youngest auctioneer (female) is Lianna Kruse-Sislyan (USA, b. 28 March 2013) who was 7 years 325 days old when she became a certified auctioneer, as verified in Los Angeles, USA, on 15 February 2021. Lianna completed the Nashville, Tennessee auctioneering program.
Country: United States
Year: 2021
Date: February 15
Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-auctioneer
The most expensive gun sold at auction is $1,040,600 (£764,953 / €900,267) for a Colt .45 semi automatic pistol once owned by Al Capone, at a private auction hosted by Witherell’s Auction House (USA), in Sacramento, California, USA, on 4 October 2021. The auction was won by Tarek Tabsh (USA).
Country: United States
Year: 2021
Date: October 4
Source: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/62512-most-expensive-gun-sold-at-auction