Lauritz.com

Update, September 2026: After the original Lauritz.com went bankrupt in 2023, its assets were bought by Auktionshuset.com, which relaunched as a new company under the Lauritz.com name in October 2024.

About Lauritz.com

Lauritz.com is one of the most distinctive auction houses in Northern Europe, combining the traditions of a Danish auction firm established in 1885 with the technological innovation of one of the world's first dedicated online auction platforms. Originally founded as Lauritz Christensen Auctions in Copenhagen, the firm spent more than a century operating as a respected but modest traditional auction house before a bold pivot at the dawn of the internet age transformed it into a digital powerhouse.

History

In December 1999, the company was renamed Lauritz.com A/S, and the first online auction was launched on December 9 of that year — making it one of the earliest auction houses anywhere in the world to embrace timed online sales. By the spring of 2000, the full web platform was live, and Lauritz.com had become the first Danish auction house to conduct online auctions. The move proved prescient: by 2004, Lauritz.com had grown to become the largest auction house in Denmark, a position it maintained for many years.

The Lauritz.com model blended the best elements of traditional auctioneering — expert valuation, physical viewing opportunities, and transparent bidding — with the accessibility and global reach of the internet. Sellers could consign items at any of the company's regional offices across Scandinavia, where in-house specialists would assess, photograph and catalogue each lot, while buyers could browse and bid from anywhere in the world, with the platform handling payment processing, invoicing and shipping coordination. At its peak, Lauritz.com operated through a network of auction houses and consignment offices across Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Belgium.

Specialist categories

Core specialties include an extraordinarily broad range of categories:

• Scandinavian and International Design
• Fine Art
• Jewelry and Watches
• Antique Furniture and Ceramics
• Silver
• Rugs and Textiles
• Vintage Collectibles

The firm has been particularly strong in Scandinavian mid-century modern design, offering everything from iconic furniture by Finn Juhl, Borge Mogensen and Poul Kjaerholm to studio ceramics and glass by leading Nordic makers.

2023 restructuring

The Lauritz.com story has not been without turbulence. In 2023, the company experienced financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy proceedings. However, the brand and operations were acquired by Danish entrepreneur Ib Henrik Ronje through Auktionshuset.com, and Lauritz.com continues to operate under new ownership with the same name, staff and auction houses. The transition preserved the core platform and expertise, and the firm has resumed a full auction calendar.

Selling and buying

Today, Lauritz.com conducts hundreds of online auctions each year, with new lots added daily. The platform is accessible in multiple languages, and the buyer base spans Europe and beyond, while physical viewing is available at the firm's Danish offices, providing the tactile experience many collectors value when assessing antiques and decorative arts.

For sellers, the consignment process is designed to be simple and accessible: items can be submitted for valuation online, by visiting a regional office, or by arranging an in-home assessment for larger collections. Lauritz.com's specialists provide estimates and, upon acceptance, handle all aspects of cataloguing and marketing; the commission structure is competitive with other Scandinavian auction houses, though specific rates should be confirmed directly with the firm as they may vary by category and value. Buyers pay a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price, the percentage of which is disclosed in the auction terms. Online bidding is the primary method of participation, though certain sales may also offer telephone and absentee bidding, and the platform supports automated proxy bidding, allowing bidders to set maximum bids and let the system bid incrementally on their behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Lauritz.com launch its first online auction?

Its first online auction launched on December 9, 1999, making it one of the earliest auction houses in the world to offer timed online sales, and by 2004 it had become the largest auction house in Denmark.

What happened to Lauritz.com in 2023?

The company entered bankruptcy proceedings but was acquired by Danish entrepreneur Ib Henrik Ronje through Auktionshuset.com, continuing under new ownership with the same name, staff and auction houses.

What is Lauritz.com particularly known for?

It is known for Scandinavian mid-century modern design, including furniture by Finn Juhl, Borge Mogensen and Poul Kjaerholm, and for pioneering online auctions since 1999.