Freeman's | Hindman

Freeman's | Hindman: America's Oldest Auction Tradition Meets Midwest Expertise

Freeman's | Hindman represents the 2023 merger of two distinguished American auction houses: Freeman's, founded in 1805 in Philadelphia and recognized as America's oldest auction house, and Hindman, established in 1982 in Chicago and one of the most successful regional auction firms in the United States. The combined entity operates under the Freeman's | Hindman banner, with principal offices in Philadelphia and Chicago and additional locations in key American cities.

Freeman's: Over Two Centuries of American Auctioneering

Freeman's was established by Tristram Bampfylde Freeman in 1805, just 29 years after the founding of the United States. For more than two centuries, Freeman's occupied a singular position in the American auction landscape, conducting sales from its historic building on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. The house built particular strength in American furniture and decorative arts, fine art, jewelry, Asian art, and books and manuscripts. Freeman's has sold important works by leading American artists and handled significant Philadelphia-area estate collections for generations.

Hindman: A Midwest Powerhouse

Hindman (originally Leslie Hindman Auctioneers) was founded in 1982 by Leslie Hindman in Chicago. The firm grew rapidly to become one of the most prominent auction houses in the American Midwest, with satellite offices in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Denver, Palm Beach, Atlanta, and other cities. Hindman built a reputation for breadth and accessibility, conducting sales in fine art, decorative arts, jewelry, furniture, books, and many specialty categories. The firm's regional roots allowed it to develop deep relationships with collectors, estates, and institutions throughout the central United States.

The Merger and Combined Strengths

The 2023 combination created a formidable national auction house with coast-to-coast reach. The merged entity draws on Freeman's deep heritage and East Coast prestige together with Hindman's broad Midwestern network and operational scale. Collectors and consignors now benefit from a larger specialist team, broader marketing reach, and more frequent sale opportunities across a wider geographic area.

What to Expect

Freeman's | Hindman offers a full-service auction experience spanning consignment evaluation, marketing, live and online bidding, and post-sale logistics. The house handles everything from single high-value items to complete estate dispersals. Buyer's premiums and seller's commissions are competitive with other mid-market American houses. The combined firm's deep bench of specialists covers American and European fine art, decorative arts, Asian art, jewelry, watches, books and manuscripts, fashion, and more.

For consignors in the eastern United States, the Philadelphia office provides the gravitas of the Freeman's name. For those in the Midwest and beyond, Hindman's established network offers convenient local access and trusted regional expertise. Together, they represent a compelling American alternative to the New York-centric auction market.