Bonhams: Promoting & Selling Greek Art in Europe

Bonhams Greek Art department is over 10 years old. They hold dedicated sales of Greek works ranging from 19th Century classic art to high-profile modern and contemporary pieces twice a year at the Mayfair saleroom in London with previews shows of all the works to be auctioned in both London and Athens. Bonhams is the only international auction house to do this.

The latest Bonhams Greek Sale in April was over 60% sold and the star lot, Autumn, a magnificent and important work by Yiannis Tsarouchis, sold for over £270,000 ($413,000) against an estimate of £150,000-200,000 )$230,000-300,000). At the same sale Bonhams also offered a selection of works donated by contemporary Greek artists concerned about the current socio-economic situation in Greece. The proceeds of the sale of these works went to benefit the work of the non-profit organization ‘GreeceDebtFree’.

Tsarouchis is just one of the leading figures in the story of Modern and Contemporary Greek art that has been featured in the sales. Bonhams has also sold works by Theofilos Hadjimichail, Konstantinos Volanakis, Nicos Hadjikyraikos, Alecos Fassianos, Alecos Kontopoulos and other major Greek artists.

Bonhams also holds several world records for works by Greek artists sold at auction including paintings by Fassianos, Yiannis Moralis, Thanos Tsingos and Theodore Ralli whose Praying before the communion at Megara was sold for £692,000 ($1m) in 2008.

These artists and many more will be represented in the upcoming Greek sale on 26 November – the first Greek art sale to be held in their prestigious brand new saleroom at 101 New Bond Street, London.

Ever since the department was set up their aim has always been to achieve the maximum return for the clients.

“We combine careful curatorial selection of works with expert cataloguing and targeted marketing campaigns designed to ensure that every picture is seen by the widest possible audience of potential buyers,” says the specialist at the Greek department, Mrs. Olympia Pappa.

The Greek sale specialists work closely with the Bonhams extensive network of offices and representatives throughout Europe, America and the Far East to provide the highest possible level of service.