Christie's (Christie's)
Company site - christies.com
The first market of Fine Arts took pioneer commission trade former naval officer James Christie Senior. Organized the first sale in 1766 in London, he was soon owned premises with specially built for him mart. From the beginning, Christie tried to keep the lead. Aristocracy and royal family members sent their collections here. As lots are often exhibited even the value of Britain's national heritage. Its heyday Christie was required of the 1848 revolution, which marked "a time of great sales." It is believed that Christie turned antiques trade in art - here were the biggest auctions XVIII and XIX centuries. And by the way, does anyone other than himself, James Christie, brokered a deal to sell a collection of paintings by Sir Robert Walpole Russian Empress Catherine II. Purchased art collection became the basis for the future of the Hermitage Museum.

Sotheby's (Sotheby's)
Company site - sothebys.com
Sotheby's founder was a bookseller Samuel Baker, who held his first auction in 1744 in London and published the first book catalog with fixed prices. In 1754, Baker opened a permanent auction room. For a century Baker and his successors have specialized exclusively on books and organizers were all known trading libraries including Prince Talleyrand, the Duke of York and Buckingham and a library of Napoleon, the emperor that he took with him into exile on the island of St. Helena.
In 1778, the case was transferred to his nephew John Baker Sotheby's, heirs who heads the firm for over 80 years. From 1778, the company became known as Sotheby's. During this period, the company has expanded its activities to start selling prints, coins, medals, and other antiques, but the main thing was still the book trade.
Maintained a tacit agreement that the furniture and paintings were sent to Christie's, Sotheby's assigns all books. It was broken in 1913 by selling "Portrait of a Man" by Frans Hals, sold for a good price for that time of 9000 pounds. And in 1917, took a big sale for the first time include a picture, along with furniture and engravings. In 1955, the company opened an office in New York, and in 1964 took an even more far-sighted decision to purchase the auction company "Park Burnet," the largest U.S. auction house specializing in works of art. Becoming the property of the company, "Sotheby's" auction house "Burnet Park" took the top position in the rapidly growing North American market, the implementation of Impressionist and Modern paintings.
Sotheby's was closed as a "club" where the work could only get aristocrats. By the early 80-ies of XX century Sotheby's practically bankrupt. In 1983, Sotheby's sold an American businessman Alfred A. Taubmanu - owner of a large chain of stores. Today Sotheby's - is more than 100 offices throughout the world, including a branch in Moscow. In 2000, Sotheby's became the first international auction of works of art, conducting auctions on the internet. Among the most interesting lots sold on the web - the first print of the Declaration of Independence (more than $ 8 million).

Bonhams (Bonhams)
Company site - bonhams.com
Third largest auction house, and versatile in the world, one of the few surviving Georgian auction houses in London. It was formed in 1793 by the famous engravings dealer Thomas Dodd (Thomas Dodd) and antiquarian book Walter Bonham (Walter Bonham) and extended to the middle of XIX century. In 2000, Bonhams auction house was bought by Brooks and the company became known as Bonhams & Brooks. Brooks was founded in 1989 by Robert Brooks, who specialized in the sale of classic and vintage cars. In 2001, Bonhams & Brooks teamed with the auction house Phillips Son & Neale. Today, Bonhams sells in 70 categories, including painting, cars, musical instruments, wine, rugs, and design objects. The auction house holds over 700 worldwide sales. Bonhams auction in the United States has (Bonhams & Butterfields), Australia (Bonhams & Goodmans), South Africa and Hong Kong.

Dorotheum (Dorotheum)
Company site - dorotheum.com
The largest and most respected auction house in the German-speaking countries. Founded in 1707 by Emperor Joseph I.
Dorotheum - one of the most famous cultural institutions in Vienna, an integral part of Austrian history. 80 years after its founding as "Viennese pawnshop to issue mortgage loans on things" institution moved to the former convent of sisters doroteek. Hence the it has survived to this day called "Dorotheum". Construction of a magnificent palace (Palais) in the lane Doroteek (Dorotheergasse) in place of the old monastery was completed in 1901.
Dorotheum on average spends about 600 auctions per year. In addition to Vienna, where the headquarters are located, has offices in several Austrian cities (Salzburg), as well as in Milan and Prague.

MakDuglas (MacDougall's)
Company site - macdougallauction.com
Relatively young MacDougall's is the only auction house specializing exclusively in Russian art. The auction house sells paintings and other works of art from the XVIII century to the present day, and set several records at the Soviet nonconformist art. In 2009, held an auction of Orthodox icons. It is headquartered in London, with offices in Paris, Moscow and Kiev. Auctions are held on average twice a year.

Stockholm Auction House (Stockholm Auction House)
Company site - auktionsverket.se
Stockholm Auction House - the oldest auction house in the world, was founded by Baron Claes R? Lamb in 1674 in Stockholm. Customer auction house kings: Karl XI and Gustav III and the Swedish writer and novelist August Strindberg. Until 1993 the auction house owned by the city Stockholm, is now in private hands. On average, spends 75 auctions a year. Works only in Sweden, has offices in Gothenburg and Malmö. At least once a year at the specialized Russian auction. Also Russian things can often be found at auctions, selling European fine and decorative art XIX-XX centuries.

Uppsala (Uppsala Auktionskammare)
Company site - uppsalaauktion.se
Uppsala auction was founded in 1731, is the third largest auction in Sweden and the largest outside of Stockholm. The headquarters of the auction house is located in Uppsala, Uppsala, has offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg, also has offices in Södermanland. In 2009 the company was bought by the Crafoord Auktioner. Sales of traditional art XVIII-XIX centuries are common Russian names.

Bukovskis (Bukowskis)
Company site - bukowski.fi
Bukovskis auction house was founded in 1870 in Sweden, emigrated to the Polish nobleman Henryk Bukovske (Henryk Bukowski). Henryk Bukowski attached great importance to selling high-quality works of art and antiques. Between 1870 and 1940 he was made a number of important collections of royal descent sales that make a house gained worldwide reputation. Bukovskis auction house is the leading auction house in Scandinavia and has offices around the world. Swedish Bukowskis holds four major auction in the year. Two of them, spring and autumn Bukowskis Modern Sales devoted modernist and contemporary art, including design objects, furniture, silver, glass.
In 1979 he opened an office in Finland, which has quickly become the leading auction house in the country, conducting more than 100 auctions a year. As recognized by the home, thanks to the general history of Finland and Russia in the catalogs of both auctions, there are many Russian works of art.

The auction house Drouot (Drouot)
Company site - drouot.com
First talk about the Drouot in 1852, when the old hotel Pinon de Quincy, converted in the auction rooms, the property was sold by auction the French king Louis-Philippe. Emperor Napoleon III personally visited Drouot and acquired for his collection of two statues. After the death of the painter Eugène Delacroix was put up for auction the entire contents of his studio, the same thing happened with the legacy of Ingres, the brothers Goncourt, and Sarah Bernhardt. To date, Drouot, perhaps, the most respectable auction house in France. Every year it organizes about 2,000 auctions. Sold at Drouot and sold almost everything from sculptures to paintings, from houses to cars, from antiques to old stairs Eiffel Tower. Here there is the letter of Christopher Columbus and autograph "Flowers of Evil" Baudelaire. Drouot gone through almost all of the Impressionists. And Drouot selling work of these artists in 1870 (before they became known as the Impressionists). At Drouot auction can be found and paintings by Russian artists, many of whom emigrated after the Revolution in France.

Poly Auction (Poly)
Company site - polypm.com.cn
Ranks third in the list of the largest auction houses in the world. Founded July 1, 2005 in Beijing. Now recognized as the fastest growing auction house in China. It has offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, France and the United States

Chin Guardian (China Guardian)
Company site - cguardian.com
Ranked fourth in the list of the largest auction houses in the world. Founded in May 1993 in Beijing.

Gelos Auction House
Company site - gelos.ru
The largest in Russia and the CIS auction house. Founded in 1988.