European Ceramics & Glass

As the category’s global market leader in 2020 and 2021, Sotheby’s European Ceramics & Glass department maintains an international presence with selling locations in New York, London, Paris, and Cologne. We handle the most important specimens of European ceramics and glass ranging in date from the Renaissance to the 21^st century.

In addition to our bi-annual sales in Spring and Autumn, we handle important single-owner collections. In 2021 the department presented the historic restituted Meissen porcelain Collection of Franz and Margarethe Oppenheimer, a ‘white glove’ sale—100% of lots sold—which totaled over $15,000,000 and set a new world record for an auction sale of European Ceramics.

In previous years, the department has also handled the important auctions of the Henry H. Arnhold Collection, Wedgwood and Beyond English Ceramics from The Starr Collection, the Collection of Sir Gawaine and Lady Baillie, and the Collection of Giovanni & Gabriella Barilla.

Our global team of experienced specialists works closely with colleagues across Sotheby’s international locations to secure the rarest and most distinguished European ceramics and to promote these objects to the widest range of potential buyers.