DuMouchelles

About DuMouchelles

DuMouchelles is Detroit's oldest and most prestigious auction house, a family-operated institution that has been at the center of the city's art and antiques market for nearly a century. It was founded in 1927 by Joseph and Charlotte DuMouchelle shortly after their marriage and has been passed down through four generations of the family, maintaining a commitment to quality, integrity and community that has made it a beloved Detroit landmark.

History

The firm's story begins in the late 1920s, when the newlywed DuMouchelles established a business dealing in fine and decorative art. As the enterprise grew, it evolved from a dealership into a full-service auction house, eventually settling into a six-story building on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit, directly across from the landmark Renaissance Center. The building, said to have once been the oldest car dealership in the state, became an iconic auction destination, with its galleries filled floor to ceiling with paintings, furniture, porcelain, silver, jewelry and decorative objects from estates across Michigan and beyond.

DuMouchelles has weathered Detroit's economic cycles with remarkable resilience. Through the city's industrial boom, its difficult decades of contraction, and its ongoing renaissance, the firm has remained committed to its downtown location and its mission of serving collectors and estates with expertise and fairness. This persistence has earned DuMouchelles deep loyalty from generations of Michigan collectors and estate professionals.

Fine art, jewelry and decorative arts

Fine art is a major pillar of the business, with sales regularly featuring American and European paintings, prints and sculpture. In November 2023, DuMouchelles made headlines with record-breaking sales of works by iconic African American artists closely linked to Detroit's cultural fabric: two vibrant landscapes by ninety-nine-year-old Richard Mayhew sold for $285,200 and $272,800 respectively, each exceeding his prior auction record of $233,000. The firm has also handled notable works by Tony Smith, Milton Avery, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec, among many others.

The jewelry department is another cornerstone of the business, conducting regular jewelry-focused sales and integrating important pieces into general auctions. A highlight from a recent three-day sale series was a 14.16-carat emerald-cut diamond ring in platinum that sold for $198,400 to a Canadian bidder. Estate watches, including Patek Philippe, Rolex and Cartier, also feature prominently: a Patek Philippe Triple Calendar Moonphase in 18K gold exceeded its $30,000 high estimate to sell for $155,000, potentially a record for the model.

Decorative arts round out the firm's offerings, and the breadth of material in any given sale reflects the diversity of the estates that consign to the firm — from grand Grosse Pointe mansions to collections assembled over decades by knowledgeable Michigan collectors. Categories include:

• Fine art glass and porcelain
• Sterling silver and bronze sculpture
• Oriental rugs
• Antique furniture from American, English and Continental traditions
• Mid-century modern design

Selling with DuMouchelles

For consignors, DuMouchelles provides a full suite of services including complimentary evaluations, in-home consultations, and professional appraisals for estate, insurance and tax purposes. The firm works with individual collectors, estate attorneys, trust officers and institutions, and seller commissions are negotiated on a per-consignment basis. The firm's long-standing reputation for fairness and transparency makes it the natural first choice for many Michigan estate professionals.

Buying and bidding

Buyers pay a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price, typically in the range of 24 to 26 percent depending on the bidding channel, and complete terms and conditions are published with each sale catalogue. All lots are available for in-person preview at the downtown Detroit gallery, and online catalogues feature detailed descriptions and high-resolution photography.

Online bidding is available through DuMouchelles' own live bidding platform as well as through third-party services including LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable and Bidsquare. Absentee and telephone bidding are accepted for all catalogued sales, and the firm's investment in digital infrastructure has expanded its bidder base well beyond the Detroit metropolitan area, attracting participants from across the country and internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DuMouchelles sell?

DuMouchelles sells fine art, jewelry, watches, decorative arts, furniture, silver, rugs and porcelain.

How do DuMouchelles' fees work?

Buyers pay a buyer's premium of 24-26 percent depending on the bidding channel, and seller commissions are negotiated on a per-consignment basis.

What makes DuMouchelles stand out?

Four generations of family ownership, nearly a century of Detroit history, and record-breaking results in fine art and jewelry distinguish DuMouchelles from a faceless corporate operation.