Private Sales

Private Sales

Browse a selection of works currently available for Private Sale. Contact us to learn more.
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Browse a selection of works currently available for Private Sale. Contact us to learn more.

S otheby’s Private Sales works discreetly and seamlessly with buyers and sellers of world-class works of art throughout the year, independent of the auction calendar. Whether you are seeking a specific artwork for your growing collection or wish to sell, our global team of sale directors is ready to source, sell, advise and research on your behalf. We conduct private sales in a range of categories including fine art, jewelry, watches, books, wine, automobiles and more, usually for objects with a value of $100,000 or greater. Unlike auction prices which are subject to demand, in private sales prices are fixed, clear and always mutually agreed upon between both parties.

Our team brings decades of expertise and passion to each interaction, backed by unrivaled knowledge of both art history and the dynamic market. For 276 years Sotheby’s has helped passionate collectors acquire and sell the world’s greatest masterpieces. Depending on your category of interest, please contact a sale director today to learn more about our current offerings or to find out how we can assist you with your collecting needs.

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Contemporary Art

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Impressionist & Modern Art

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Old Master Paintings

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American Art

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Prints & Multiples

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Ancient & European Sculpture

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Modern & Contemporary Southeast Asian Art

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Jewelry & Watches

Watches

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Interiors

20th Century Design

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English & French Continental Furniture

Sotheby's East Hampton

Location:
66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937

Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday
11am–6pm

Contact:
easthampton@sothebys.com

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In the News

Notable Private Sales

In 2019, Sotheby’s private sales totalled nearly $1 billion. Half of those transactions ranged from $5–50 million.

Discover some of Sotheby's most noted sales from the past decade, from stunning diamonds and rare manuscripts to prized old masters and modern masterpieces.

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Discover Some of Sotheby's Most Noted Sales from the Past Decade

  • Orazio Gentileschi depicts the Old Testament story of the Finding of Moses.
    Commissioned by Charles I of England for his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria, this monumental canvas by Orazio Gentileschi depicts the Old Testament story of the Finding of Moses. Having last changed hands at Sotheby’s at auction in 1995, our Old Masters and Tax and Heritage Departments negotiated the private sale of this masterpiece, to the National Gallery in London in 2019.
  • The Auckland Project
    In 2018 Sotheby’s hosted an exhibition of Spanish Old Master Paintings that has been acquired privately through Sotheby’s for the newly created Spanish Gallery at Bishop Auckland near Durham, in the North of England. Our Head of Private Sales in Old Masters, James Macdonald, worked closely with the English Financier and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer to source and assemble a collection of museum standard works for The Spanish Gallery, which forms a key part of The Auckland Project’s inspiring mission to create social and economic regeneration in the former industrial town of Bishop Auckland through the creation of a world-class cultural and heritage destination.

    For more information on The Auckland Project and The Spanish Gallery see aucklandproject.org
  • © Michael Oldford
    102.34 Carat White Diamond
    In April 2018, a private collector acquired this extraordinarily rare diamond through Sotheby’s Diamonds. The stone was the rarest white diamond ever to come to the market and the largest round D-colour flawless diamond known to man.
  • A Masterpiece for the J. Paul Getty Museum
    In June 2017, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles announced that it purchased a rare 16th-century Parmigianino painting through Sotheby's. Titled Virgin With Child, St. John the Baptist, and Mary Magdalene, the painting has been in private hands for more than 400 years and in Britain for nearly 250 years.
  • Norman Rockwell’s Shuffleton’s Barbershop
    In November 2017, Sotheby's arranged the private sale of Norman Rockwell’s masterful Shuffleton’s Barbershop to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.
  • An Illuminated Hebrew Bible
    In December 2017, the Metropolitan Museum of Art privately acquired a Magnificent 14th-century Illuminated Hebrew Bible. The book was scheduled to be the top lot of the Important Judaica auction.
  • Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
    Bernini's Bust of Pope Paul V
    In June 2015, the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired the newly discovered marble bust of Pope Paul V by Gian Lorenzo Bernini through Sotheby’s Private Sales. Carved in 1621 by the 23 year old Bernini, the bust had been lost since its sale by the Borghese family in 1893.
  • AFP via Getty Images
    Prized Russian Art
    In November 2013, Robert Falk’s Man in a Bowler Hat (Portrait of Yakov Kagan-Shabshai) and Petr Konchalovsky’s monumental Family Portrait in the Artist’s Studio sold privately to an important private Russian collector ahead of Sotheby’s Russian auctions in London.
  • Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art
    The Mishneh Torah
    In April 2013, the Mishneh Torah, a highlight of the Michael & Judy Steinhardt Judaica Collection, was privately purchased jointly by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York ahead of the auction.
  • Henri Matisse’s Beautiful Bronze
    In November 2011, Sotheby’s brokered a private sale for Henri Matisse’s Les Nus de Dos (The Backs).
  • © Carl Court/PA Images via Getty Images
    A Virtuoso Violin
    In February 2008, Sotheby’s brokered a private sale for a rare and important Guarneri del Gesù violin to the Russian businessman and collector Maxim Viktorov.
  • Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
    The Ottheinrich Bible
    In November 2007, Sotheby’s assisted with the private sale of the Ottheinrich Bible from the Ducal Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Art Foundation to the German State of Bavaria for an undisclosed sum.
  • Stephen Chernin/Getty Images
    The Collection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
    In 2006, Morehouse College acquired the Collection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for an undisclosed amount in advance of the scheduled auction.
  • Rembrandt’s Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet
    In 2015, Rembrandt’s Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet, 1657, sold privately and was then offered on loan to National Museum Wales for three years in 2016.
  • The Forbes Collection of Fabergé
    In February 2004, the Forbes Collection of Fabergé, which had been scheduled to be sold at auction in New York on 20–21 April, sold privately to a prominent Russian industrialist, Mr. Victor Vekselberg, for an undisclosed amount.
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FAQ

  • What is the difference between private sales and auctions?
    Buying and selling art privately is a confidential alternative to public auctions. Sotheby’s works on behalf of buyers to negotiate a mutually agreed purchase price with the seller. At auction, many parties vying for an artwork often determines the final price.
  • How can I find out what is currently for sale?
    At any given time, Sotheby’s has numerous artworks available for private sale. Contact a sale director depending on your category of interest to discuss what you are looking for and how we can help.
  • Can Sotheby’s help me find a specific object or work of art?
    Yes. If you are searching for a specific artwork, or type of artwork, our team will partner with you to source and research items specifically on your behalf. Sotheby's Private Sales has cultivated close relationships with collectors, gallerists and institutions around the world, and through these extensive contacts we are able to find the exceptional works of art our clients seek.
  • Who can I contact for assistance?
    Depending on your category of interest, please contact a Sotheby's sale director for assistance today.
  • Does it matter where I live if I want to buy privately?
    No, Sotheby’s sale directors are engaged with clients worldwide and will utilise our global network to assist you in acquiring the finest objects specific to your needs.
  • Does Sotheby’s preserve my identity?
    Yes. Discretion and confidentiality come first in every interaction. We never disclose the identity of a buyer or seller unless it is the express wish of the client to do so.
  • How long do private sales normally take?
    Sotheby’s Private Sales works at your pace. When sourcing specific items, we will do our utmost to quickly locate the item that best meets your needs. Depending on the rarity and uniqueness of the object, the timing may vary, but our team will keep you well informed throughout the process.
  • How do I pay for my purchase?
    As soon as the sale has been processed, the post-sale service team will send you an invoice and a shipping quote based on your shipping preferences. You can pay by bank transfer, cheque or cash (subject to certain restrictions and legal limits). Certain credit cards are accepted at select Sotheby’s locations. Payment must be sent from the invoiced party and not from a third party. We will also assist you through the paperwork and shipping processes, and other logistical details needed to finalise your purchase.
  • What does Sotheby's sell privately?
    Sotheby’s offers private sales in nearly all the categories in which we also conduct auctions. These include Impressionist & Modern art, old master paintings, contemporary art, jewellery, furniture, antiquities, automobiles, African art, watches, wine and more. See our full list of departments here .
  • How can I find out what my property is worth?
    We will gladly evaluate the work you are considering selling privately with no commitment. Depending on your category of interest, please contact a Sotheby's sale director today.
  • How will Sotheby’s find a buyer for my property?
    Sotheby’s relationships with collectors span generations, working with individuals who are actively building collections around the world. We will discreetly offer your property to potential purchasers, one at a time, while keeping you informed of our progress.
  • How long will it take to sell my property?
    When you consign a work to Sotheby’s for private sale, we will present you with an agreement outlining our exclusive right to offer the work for a specified period of time. We will do our utmost to quickly find a buyer for your property, but the timing may vary depending on market demand for your object.
  • Who can I contact for assistance?
    Depending on your category of interest, contact a Sotheby's sale director for assistance today.
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