Dorotheum - since 1707
700 auctions per year, 40 categories, 100 experts and more than 300 years’ worth of experience.
Celebrating 300 years since its foundation in Vienna by Emperor Joseph I in 1707, Dorotheum is today the largest auction house in German-speaking Europe as well as a leader in central Europe and one of the oldest and largest auction houses in the world.
Having raised its profile following the most successful results in its history and a spate of top and world record prices at auction, Dorotheum has expanded internationally and we are now proud to have representative offices in Munich, Düsseldorf, Milan, Rome, London, Prague, and Brussels, all of which hold regular previews of the major auction items.
Highlights of our calendar are undoubtedly the major auctions, held by a range of departments: Old Master and 19th Century Paintings, Classic Modernist and Contemporary Art, Antiques, Silver, Art Nouveau, Jewellery, and Clocks.
We also regularly hold special auctions in over 40 departments, which attract art enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world. These include, to name just a few, auctions of design, porcelain, glass, photography, historical scientific instruments, royal and imperial memorabilia, stamps, coins, books, and autographs.
Our team includes over 100 experts who would be delighted to assist or advise with any queries.
A Brief History of Dorotheum
Founded by Emperor Joseph I in 1707, Dorotheum is one of the world’s oldest major auction houses.
As an emininent Viennese institution for over 300 years, Dorotheum is a slice of Austrian history. Eighty years after it was founded as the "Displacement and Inquiry Office for Vienna", it relocated to the former Dorotheerkirche, a convent, leading to its current name "Dorotheum".
The magnificent Palais Dorotheum that is located in the Dorotheergasse was completed on the site of the old convent in 1901.
Plans for the new building in neo-Baroque style were drawn up by the famous Ringstrasse architect, Emil Ritter von Förster, and Kaiser Franz Joseph himself conducted its grand opening. The premises met all the requirements of a major auction house, and the spacious showrooms and salons cemented its appeal as an elegant marketplace for fine art. Today, the palace provides an ambient and unique backdrop for the major international Dorotheum auctions.
Dorotheum has been privately owned since autumn 2001. Its owners run the house with tremendous zest and passion for art. The management’s aim is to promote Vienna as a location for auctions while maintaining the charm of the traditional building.
Dorotheum is a meeting place for art lovers and collectors, offering efficient customer service, a vibrant image, and an excellent international network of contacts and clients. Dorotheum places particular focus on modern and contemporary art.