Bonhams The Classics London Sales Total £5.53M Across Six Auctions
Bonhams concluded The Classics series in London with six live sales that generated a combined £5,534,325. The auctions spanned Fine Clocks, European Ceramics, Old Master Paintings, Fine Decorative Arts and Antiquities, following an earlier edition in Paris. Highlights included a Sèvres royal snuff-box that set a world record at £190,900 and was acquired by the Société des Amis de Versailles for the Château de Versailles, a Thomas Tompion table clock that realised £140,100, and a Breguet pocket watch that sold for £76,600. The accompanying online sale continues through 10 December 2025.
The Signal
Strong results for objects with exceptional provenance signal sustained collector and institutional demand in these fields. Museums actively competed, as evidenced by the Versailles acquisition, while pieces such as the Rothschild-linked snuff-box and the Edward East clock exceeded low estimates by wide margins. The outcomes reinforce Bonhams' position for rare decorative arts and antiquities and indicate that quality and documented history continue to drive premiums in the current market.
The Morning Signal · Daily
Enjoying this? Get the daily wire.
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read.
No spam · 7am daily · unsubscribe anytime
- People: Nette Megens, Peter and Mary White
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Museums: Château de Versailles
- Locations: London
- Prices: £5,534,325, £190,900, £140,100, £76,600
📊 Market Intelligence
Get deeper analysis, artist indices, and auction analytics on Art Collector IQ →
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read.
No spam · 7am daily · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
