Cheffins

Cheffins was founded in 1825 and is a UK firm of valuers, surveyors, property advisers and auctioneers.

The company’s fine art auctioneers and valuers business is based in an office in Cambridge. Its sales include regular antiques and interiors auctions, fine art, art and design, specialist books, maps an prints, an oriental sale and a wine sale.


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Bidders splash out on rare survivors of fabulous fountains

17 July 2026

Lots offer elements that once featured on much larger spectacular 19th century creations

Thomas Gainsborough's landscape with donkeys

Fitzwilliam Museum buys early Thomas Gainsborough drawing at auction

10 July 2026

A drawing from the early part of Thomas Gainsborough's (1727-88) career, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, sold to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cheffins' latest fine art sale.

A portrait of a naval officer by Henry Raeburn

Rediscovered Henry Raeburn portrait brings competition in Cambridge auction

07 July 2026

A previously unrecorded painting by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) that “slipped through the net of all scholars” led the latest fine art sale held by Cambridge saleroom Cheffins (25% buyer’s premium).

The Child's Wheel by Muriel Jackson

‘Overlooked’ Hampstead artist Muriel Jackson finally gains spotlight with rediscovered archive at auction

09 June 2026

Until recently, the artist Muriel Blomfield Jackson (1901-77) never had much presence on the secondary market.

Thomas Gainsborough drawing

‘A remarkable insight into Gainsborough’s extraordinary skill in the early part of his career’

04 June 2026

A drawing by Thomas Gainsborough, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, will go under the hammer at Cheffins this month.

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Born without hands or feet: the remarkable artist Matthias Buchinger

15 May 2026

Rare family tree drawing by the 18th-century artist, magician, musician and showman comes to auction

Waggons on the Heath

Sale of artist Muriel Jackson's Hampstead home brings 60-strong collection of works to auction

05 May 2026

The Hampstead home of Muriel Jackson (1901-77) and her family was sold earlier this year and now around 60 paintings, drawings and wood engravings will be offered at auction directly from the house at 20 Well Walk.

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Royal Alice sets sail ‘on sailcloth’ as naïve paintings charm bidders

24 April 2026

Among the most intriguing naïve pictures sold recently was a simple and ostensibly unassuming painting of a ship offered at a recent Dominic Winter (22% buyer’s premium) auction.

Miss Vernon

Rediscovered portraits by Romney and Raeburn emerge at auctions this spring

10 April 2026

Mark the diary for the appearance of two notable British portraits at auction in Paris and in Cambridge.

Stepney Tyres sign

Bulldog spirit drives sign to £71,000 record

27 March 2026

An extensive collection of automobilia housed in not one but two Cambridgeshire barns included an eye-catching example of the most sought-after British enamel signs.

Stepney Tyres sign

Huge automobilia ‘barn find’ was more of a ‘two-barn find’

27 March 2026

A record price will always stand out, but this comprehensive collection also boasted a much wider range of strong prices underlying a buoyant market

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Buchinger drawing on offer in Cambridge

13 March 2026

A rare drawing by Matthias Buchinger (1674-1740), the remarkable 18th-century German artist born without hands or feet, is going under the hammer at Cheffins on March 25 estimated at £1000-1500.

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Two hundred reasons to celebrate

06 February 2026

Cambridge auction house Cheffins marked its 200-year anniversary by raising £270,596 for charity in the region – exceeding its original bicentenary fundraising pledge by over £70,000.

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Not one but two Duncan Grant studies for Sussex murals emerge

30 January 2026

Preparatory works by the Bloomsbury artist were created for spectacular works at Berwick church

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Meet the parents: a pair of Jan de Bray portraits catch the eye

16 January 2026

Poignant paintings make highest auction sum for the artist outside London

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Ashbee and Knox mix the old and modern

01 December 2025

Charles Robert Ashbee’s pseudo medieval wirework silver and glass jugs and bottles rank among the Guild of Handicraft’s finest work.

Vecchio Sultano by Salvador Dali

Rediscovered Dali bought by dealer for £150 makes £34,000 at Cambridge auction

28 October 2025

An original work by Salvador Dali discovered in a Cambridge-based house clearance made a major return for the vendor at Cheffins on October 23.

French map

Pick of the week: Mapping out the Jacobite dream

20 October 2025

The latest Library Sale at Cheffins in Cambridge included a rare French map documenting the campaign of ‘Charles Edward Prince de Galles’ in 1745-46.

Vecchio Sultano by Salvador Dali

Rediscovered Salvador Dali picture among five lots to watch

20 October 2025

With estimates from £300, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

The Goldweigher by Rembrandt

Rare Rembrandt counterproof emerges in Cambridge

17 October 2025

As followers of Old Master prints are well aware, Rembrandt (1606-69) etchings appear at auction with great regularity with the most sought after subjects and earliest states commanding impressive prices.

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