Durán Arte y Subastas

About Durán Arte y Subastas

Durán Arte y Subastas is a Madrid auction house founded in 1969 by the Durán brothers. It describes itself as the oldest and most pioneering art auction house in Spain and is one of the country's leading houses. Its saleroom is at Calle Goya 19 in the Salamanca district of Madrid.

The house holds regular numbered room auctions, online-only auctions and an online shop with fixed-price items. It set out to help professionalise the Spanish art market by bringing in rigorous valuation and transparency.

History

Since 1969 Durán has held several hundred numbered auctions. Sale 580 took place in January 2020 and sale 659 is scheduled for September 2026, which works out at roughly one room sale a month. The house has also introduced themed sale sections in fields such as archaeology, pop art, minerals, photography, fashion, vintage furniture, fossils and chess.

Works the house lists among its most important sales include:

• Francisco de Zurbarán, Santa Marina y Agnus Dei
• Mariano Fortuny, Herrador marroquí, a record for the artist in Spain
• Pablo Picasso, Pareja en un banco
• Juan Gris, El paquete de tabaco
• Marc Chagall, Le Bouquet
• Meriem Mezian, Concierto, a world record for the artist

In sale 580 in January 2020, Manuel Hernández Mompó's Casa abierta en el campo (1982) was hammered at 150,000 euros against a starting price of 35,000 euros, an auction record for the artist.

What they sell

Durán covers a wide range of fine and decorative art as well as collectibles.

• Old master, 19th-century, modern and contemporary painting, and prints
• Contemporary sculpture, digital art and urban art
• Jewellery and watches
• Silver, decorative arts, porcelain and ceramics
• Furniture
• Books and manuscripts
• Numismatics
• Vintage, and wines and spirits

Selling

Sellers agree a starting price and sale method with Durán, which then handles the expert description, cataloguing and insurance of each lot. The seller's commission is agreed case by case and recorded on the receipt issued when the lot is consigned.

• Management and catalogue fee: 10 euros for starting prices up to 300 euros, 15 euros up to 1,000 euros, 20 euros above
• Insurance: 0.6% of the starting price
• Photography, and any restoration or framing requested, are charged separately

Buying and bidding

Lots in room auctions are exhibited at the Madrid premises before the sale. Buyers can bid in the room, leave written bids on the website until midnight on the day of the sale, bid by telephone on lots with a starting price of 600 euros or more, or use automatic online bidding up to a set maximum.

• Buyer's premium: 23% of the hammer price, including VAT, for room and online auctions
• Online shop prices already include the 23% premium
• Payment is due within 10 days of the sale
• Lots must be collected within 20 days, after which storage is charged at 3 euros a day (6 euros for furniture and large items), plus VAT

Location

The main office and saleroom are on the first floor of Calle Goya 19, 28001 Madrid. Durán also has a storage facility at Camino de Hormigueras 160 in Madrid.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Durán Arte y Subastas founded?

It was founded in Madrid in 1969 by the Durán brothers and describes itself as the oldest art auction house in Spain.

What is the buyer's premium at Durán?

The buyer's premium is 23% of the hammer price, VAT included, for both room and online auctions.

Can I bid online at Durán?

Yes. You can leave written bids on the website until midnight on the day of the sale, use automatic online bidding, or buy fixed-price items in the online shop.