I was going to suggest the V&A National Art Library too – having worked there for my MA placement recently!
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/n/national-art-library-auction-house-sale-catalogues/
And the Courtiuald:
http://courtauld.ac.uk/study/resources/book-library/collections-services/sales-catalogues
and the National Portrait Gallery:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/library
and the National Portrait Gallery:
http://www.npg.org.uk/research/archive/british-portraits-records
Best wishes, Sarah
From: This is the list of ARLIS/UK & Ireland: the Art Libraries Society.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carla Marchesan
Sent: 04 July 2017 11:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Enquiry about availability of decorative arts auction catalogues on open access in London
Hi Emma and all,
I’m replying to the list as this might be of interest to all.
To my knowledge, the Courtauld has the best run of auction catalogues and the National Art Library at the V&A also has an excellent
run.
Best,
Carla
Carla Marchesan
Librarian & Associate Lecturer MA Sustainable Urbanism
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The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts
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From: This is the list of ARLIS/UK & Ireland: the Art Libraries
Society. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Emma Floyd
Sent: 04 July 2017 10:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Enquiry about availability of decorative arts auction catalogues on open access in London
Dear all,
Can anyone help this enquirer? Our auction catalogues are all on closed access and we don’t collect decorative art. If you can help, please reply to him direct.
Many thanks
Emma
First name
Stephen
Last name
Wright
Email
[log in to unmask]
A question re. auction house sale catalogues originating from a London-based researcher for an art and antiques advisory company.
Is anyone aware of a publicly-accessible library that keeps lengthy runs of sale catalogues from the major auction houses on open shelf access?
Ideally holdings would include catalogues from the 1970s onwards, from all of the London, New York, and European branches of Sotheby’s and Christie’s; even better would be decent holdings of
other Parisian auctioneers.
The focus is on decorative arts and furniture rather than paintings.
A library in or near to London is required, but interested to learn of alternatives further afield.
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http://www.arlis.net/Home. Subscribe to
https://arlismatters.wordpress.com/, to receive regular posts on art library and archive matters; news, print and digital art and design resources, artists’ books, recent and upcoming events and exhibitions, ARLIS/UK & Ireland publications, job listings
and professional profiles.