thumb|200px|Bonhams is developing business in Hong Kong, China '''Bonhams and Butterfield''' was a large American auction house, founded in 1865 by William Butterfield in San Francisco.
It was purchased in 1999 from Bernard Osher by online auctioneer eBay for $260 million.
In 2002, it was acquired from eBay by British auctioneer Bonhams and operated under the name Bonhams & Butterfields for about ten years. It now just goes by Bonhams.
== History == Butterfield & Butterfield was founded in San Francisco in 1865 by William Butterfield, a former Nevada County sheriff who began by auctioning goods from ships arriving in San Francisco Bay to serve the fortunes generated by the Gold Rush.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=EBAY BUYS BUTTERFIELD & BUTTERFIELD AND BOLSTERS ITS ON-LINE CREDIBILITY|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/03/ebay-buys-butterfield-butterfield-and-bolsters-its-on-line-credibility/|website=Chicago Tribune|date=1999-05-03|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Bonhams : Bonhams Celebrates Opening of New Space in San Francisco|url=https://www.bonhams.com/press_release/30070/|website=www.bonhams.com|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref> The auction house quickly grew a reputation for handling estate goods, consignments, and distinctive Gold Rush-era artifacts, and became an important player in San Francisco's art and antiques market.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=California auction house caters to western clientele|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0505/050507.html|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2025-11-28|issn=0882-7729}}</ref>
William Butterfield's son Fred joined the firm after his father's death, and his grandson Reeder Butterfield later played an important role in the company's expansion.<ref name=":0" /> As the West Coast and its collecting markets evolved, Butterfield & Butterfield introduced specialist departments in areas such as fine art, jewelry, Western Americana, and decorative arts.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Noted Auction House to Open L.A. Gallery|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-07-re-37-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=1988-08-07|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US|first=Ruth|last=Ryon}}</ref> The house became known for auctions of major California estates and for its role in selling high-profile collections, including works of art, estate furnishings, and Gold Rush memorabilia.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Butterfield Auction House Is Making a Bid to Go Public|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-19-fi-28843-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=1999-04-19|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US|first=Debora|last=Vrana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=FROM PIPES TO CARS, FANS OF BING CROSBY BUY PIECES OF HIS LIFE (Published 1982)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/30/us/from-pipes-to-cars-fans-of-bing-crosby-buy-pieces-of-his-life.html|date=1982-05-30|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref>
In 1970, businessman and art collector Bernard Osher acquired Butterfield & Butterfield. Under Osher's ownership, the company expanded its expertise, departmental organization, and reputation, opening a Los Angeles saleroom in 1988 and further developing its national and international reach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Butterfield owner creates West Coast auction giant - UPI Archives|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/11/25/Butterfield-owner-creates-West-Coast-auction-giant/3790596437200/|website=UPI|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bernard Osher|url=https://spcs.richmond.edu/features/article/-/10559/bernard-osher.html?utm_source=news&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=features-story|website=news|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref> Butterfield & Butterfield implemented technological innovations such as online bidding and real-time remote participation in auctions during the late 1990s.<ref name=":2" />
The company was acquired by eBay in 1999 for approximately $260 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EBay Poised To Sell Butterfields Auction Division|url=https://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/ebay-poised-to-sell-butterfields-auction-division-18848.html|website=E-Commerce Times|date=2002-08-01|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US|last=Regan|first=Keith}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=eBay buys Butterfield & Butterfield|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/ebay-buys-butterfield-butterfield/|website=CNET|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Sotheby's and Amazon.com Strike a Deal to Sell on Line (Published 1999)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/17/business/sotheby-s-and-amazoncom-strike-a-deal-to-sell-on-line.html|date=1999-06-17|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref> The partnership brought Butterfield's specialist teams and appraisal services to eBay, though the blend of high-end offline and internet auctioning presented operational challenges.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EBay Opens Fine Art Live-Auction Sites, for Second Time|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/ebay-opens-fine-art-live-auction-sites-for-second-time/|website=Bits Blog|date=2014-10-06|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en|first=Mike|last=Isaac}}</ref> In 2002, Butterfield & Butterfield was purchased by London-based Bonhams, which integrated the firm into its global saleroom network, operating for a time under the name Bonhams & Butterfields and expanding Bonhams’ presence on the U.S. West Coast.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bonhams Buys Butterfields|url=https://www.forbes.com/2002/08/06/0806conn.html|work=Forbes|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
<references/>
==External links== *{{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20101120020010/http://www.bonhams.com:80/usa/home/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonhams and Butterfield}} Category:American auction houses Category:American companies established in 1865 Category:Retail companies established in 1865 Category:1999 mergers and acquisitions Category:2002 mergers and acquisitions Category:EBay acquisitions
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