European Sculpture & Works of Art

Why sell with Olympia Auctions

We provide a market for works of art that may not fetch millions but still deserve to be properly catalogued, with proper expertise, so that they fetch the best prices. Our department head, Matthew Barton is a distinguished expert in this rich and varied field. For more than 30 years, he has worked at the leading edge of the international art market, acquiring a formidable, first-hand knowledge of sculptures and objects in many styles, forms and materials.

‘At Olympia, we’re driven by the market and our passion for the objects. And because we’re experts, we still find things that fascinate us.’
Matthew Barton

A growing international audience

Many of the objects we see once belonged in collections formed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Most are fresh to the market from private vendors and some have been in the same family for generations. This makes our auctions attractive hunting grounds for new collectors who buy online and visit us in person from around the world.

The enduring appeal of collecting

In 2021, Olympia Auctions was honoured to sell the Bernard Kelly Collection of Plaquettes. Plaquettes are miniature Renaissance sculptures, mostly made and collected from the mid 15th to the mid 16th centuries. The sale totalled £ and proved that in even the most unusual and erudite corners of the art world, the passion for collecting still thrives.

Alhambrismo

The market is growing for works of art inspired by the Alhambra, the 14th century palace and fortress in Granada that is one of the world’s most famous historic monuments of Islamic architecture. From plaster models to silver caskets, the Alhambra was represented on all kinds of tourist souvenirs and those dating from the 1850s to the early 20th century are now finding a new audience and selling well at Olympia Auctions.

‘ We’re open to looking at anything. And in the field of European Sculpture and Works of Art the most wonderful and extraordinary things turn up. ’
Matthew Barton