Abell Auction Company

Abell Auction Company is one of the most storied auction institutions in the western United States, a four-generation, family-operated firm that has been practicing the American tradition of the public auction in Los Angeles for over a century. Founded by Abraham N. Abell, who immigrated to the United States in 1907 from Kiev, Russia, the company traces its origins to a furniture store that Abell purchased from a relative shortly after arriving in Los Angeles. He transformed that modest storefront into a thriving auction operation called Liberty Auctions, later renamed Abell Auction Company after relocating to the West Adams area. From those humble beginnings, Abell has grown into Southern California's premier marketplace for fine estate furnishings, art, and jewelry. The firm's longevity is remarkable by any measure, but particularly so in the fast-changing Los Angeles market. Through world wars, the Great Depression, California's postwar boom, and the digital revolution, Abell has adapted and endured, maintaining its family ownership and its core commitment to serving the estate and trust communities of Southern California. Today, the firm is distinguished as the first permanent auction house in Los Angeles dedicated to showcasing fine estate property—a distinction that reflects both its pioneering role and its enduring standards. Abell's current headquarters are located at 2613 Yates Avenue in the Commerce/Los Angeles area, where the firm conducts an extraordinary volume of sales—a record fifty-four auctions per year. The weekly Thursday estate auction is the backbone of the business, offering over one thousand lots per sale that include fine furniture and furnishings, jewelry, silver, paintings and prints, decorative arts, and a wide range of estate property. Quarterly, Abell conducts a separate catalogued auction of higher-end antiques, fine art, and decorations, which draws a more specialized collector audience. The firm's Hollywood connections are a distinctive and colorful aspect of its identity. Over the decades, Abell has sold the estates of actors, directors, and producers on Hollywood's A-list, as well as the furnishings of the writers, set designers, and craftspeople who formed the backbone of the entertainment industry. Notable sales have included Gene Autry's Steinway grand piano, Cecil B. DeMille's Italian Renaissance furniture, and the fine estate furnishings of Barbara Stanwyck, Danny Thomas, and Loretta Young. These high-profile consignments are a testament to the trust that Hollywood's elite have placed in the Abell name for generations. Beyond celebrity estates, Abell handles a steady stream of material from the broader estate and trust community of Southern California—one of the wealthiest regions in the world. The firm works closely with estate attorneys, trust officers, fiduciaries, and families to provide professional liquidation services that are efficient, transparent, and respectful. Abell's century of experience in this space means that the firm has seen virtually every type of estate situation and can advise on the best approach for any collection. The firm's auction offerings span fine art (American, European, California, and contemporary paintings, prints, and sculpture), fine and estate jewelry (diamonds, colored gemstones, signed designer pieces, and luxury watches), silver (American, English, and Continental sterling, as well as coin silver), furniture (from period antiques to twentieth-century design), decorative arts (porcelain, glass, bronzes, lamps, and more), and Oriental rugs. The weekly format means that a wide range of price points is represented, making Abell accessible to new collectors as well as seasoned buyers. For consignors, the process is streamlined by Abell's high volume and long experience. The firm provides complimentary estimates and can arrange pickup for large consignments. Seller commissions are negotiated on a per-consignment basis, and the firm's weekly auction calendar means that turnaround from consignment to sale is typically much faster than at houses that conduct only a few sales per year. Buyers pay a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price, typically in the 23 to 25 percent range. Complete terms are published for each sale. All lots are available for preview at the Los Angeles gallery, and online cataloguing with photography is provided for catalogued sales. Online bidding is available through platforms including LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, and the firm's own website. Absentee and telephone bidding are accepted. The firm's transition to robust online participation has expanded its bidder base far beyond Southern California. What makes Abell Auction Company unique is the combination of a century of family continuity, deep roots in the Los Angeles estate community, and an extraordinary volume of weekly auctions that keeps fresh material flowing to the market. Few auction houses anywhere can match Abell's longevity, local knowledge, and accessibility. Frequently asked questions include what Abell sells (estate furnishings, fine art, jewelry, silver, rugs, decorative arts), how fees work (buyer's premium of 23-25 percent; negotiated seller commissions), how to consign (complimentary estimate; pickup available), whether online bidding is supported (yes, on all sales), and what distinguishes Abell (century-old family business, Hollywood heritage, and fifty-four auctions per year).