Rupert Powell took the first auction at the new Forum premises in Battersea on February 10.
The new-build premises at 4 Ingate Place in Battersea, south London, give the prints and works on paper specialist its own auction room. Previously it held all live auctions in a Mayfair hotel.
Now its live sales will be held on its own premises. However, for some specific consignments it will hold auctions in the Gurr Johns- Dreweatts galleries at 16 Pall Mall in central London. Forum merged with the Gurr Johns group last year.
Stephan Ludwig, co-chief executive of the group, said: “The main USP for the new space is that it is all groundfloor continuous open space allowing for a much easier flow of goods from consignment to dispatch.
“Storage has been tailored to our needs including bookshelves on wheels that allow consignments and whole auctions to be ‘wheeled in and out’ of the auction gallery once catalogued, illustrated and lotted.”
Ludwig said he observed a rise in the number of people bidding in the room at its first auction in the new venue on February 10.
To the manor borne
Chilcotts’ Grade II-listed The Dolphin Saleroom in Honiton, Devon.
Devon saleroom Chilcotts has also recently moved, to an historic building in its hometown.
It now operates from a Grade II-listed building on the High Street in Honiton, a move from nearby Silver Street salerooms in the livestock market where it had been for more than a decade.
Following refurbishment, the former manor house of the Courtenay family and the Dolphin Hotel (whose former guests included William of Orange and a young Princess Victoria) accommodates specialist viewing rooms for items including jewellery, silver, medals and ceramics and new salerooms.
Chilcotts has named the building and its rooms after historic occupiers: The Dolphin Saleroom (after the hotel and the crest of the Courtenay family) features the Courtenay, Victoria and Orange rooms.
One of the viewing rooms at Chilcotts’ The Dolphin Saleroom in Honiton, Devon.
The firm, run by Duncan and Liz Chilcott, reported its second-highest turnover in 2021 despite the pandemic disruptions.
Auctioneer Duncan Chilcott said: “This is our 18th year as a family-run business, and there is no doubt that our new saleroom has given Chi lcot ts a real li f t throughout.”
Chilcotts, which has a total of 14 staff, is also holding valuation days in Sidmouth in the wake of Potburys Auctions closing last year (Potburys of Sidmouth continues as a furniture retailer as well as providing a removals and storage service).
