New Orleans Auction Galleries

New Orleans Auction Galleries, commonly referred to as NOAG, is one of the most prestigious auction houses in the American South, offering a distinguished selection of fine art, antique and modern furniture, jewelry, silver, and decorative arts drawn from estates and private collections across the Gulf region and beyond. Over the course of more than three decades, NOAG has established itself as a trusted leader in the auction industry, known for exceptional offerings, personalized service, and consistently strong results that have earned the confidence of collectors, estate professionals, and institutions alike. The firm's history reflects the cultural richness of its namesake city. New Orleans has long been one of America's great centers of art, craftsmanship, and collecting, with a tradition of fine living and patronage of the arts that stretches back to the French Colonial period. NOAG was built to serve this tradition, providing a local venue of national caliber for the dispersal of the city's and region's finest collections. In 2012, Houston businesswoman and philanthropist Susan D. Sarofim acquired the firm, infusing it with new investment and ambition while preserving its established identity and client relationships. Under Sarofim's ownership, NOAG has continued to push boundaries, expanding its reach and enhancing its marketing and cataloguing capabilities. NOAG conducts seven major catalogued sales per year, each presenting a curated selection of material spanning multiple categories. The firm's particular strengths include Southern art—a broad category encompassing paintings by artists associated with New Orleans, Louisiana, and the wider American South—as well as Continental and American furniture, antique and modern porcelain, art pottery, sterling and coin silver, fine jewelry, and decorative arts from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries. The firm's Modern and Contemporary Art and Design sale is a cross-category event that brings together international blue-chip artists alongside Southern regional painters and an dynamic range of nineteenth- and twentieth-century furniture and design. The firm's team of in-house researchers and specialists brings extensive knowledge across all of its sale categories. NOAG maintains a proprietary reference library that supports rigorous provenance research and contextual presentation of notable auction items. This scholarly infrastructure is a hallmark of the firm and distinguishes it from many regional competitors. For consignors, NOAG offers a comprehensive service that begins with a complimentary evaluation. Prospective sellers can contact the firm by phone, email, or through the website to arrange a consultation. The team regularly travels throughout the Gulf South and beyond to evaluate collections in situ, and the firm handles everything from single important lots to entire estates. NOAG advises on auction timing, reserve pricing, and catalogue placement, and its marketing reach extends to a national and international audience of registered bidders. Seller commissions are negotiated on a confidential, case-by-case basis; the firm encourages potential consignors to contact the appropriate specialist department for current terms. Buyers at NOAG pay a buyer's premium on top of the hammer price. The premium is tiered and consistent with industry standards, typically starting at 25 percent on the first portion of the hammer price. Applicable Louisiana sales tax is charged where required. Complete conditions of sale are published with each auction catalogue. Online bidding is available for all NOAG sales through the firm's website as well as through third-party platforms including Invaluable, LiveAuctioneers, and Bidsquare. Absentee and telephone bidding are also accepted. The firm's investment in high-resolution photography, detailed online cataloguing, and real-time streaming of live auctions ensures that remote participants can bid with confidence. NOAG's gallery and saleroom are located in the Arts District of New Orleans, a vibrant neighborhood that is home to many of the city's leading galleries, museums, and cultural institutions. The location provides a fitting backdrop for the firm's sales and previews, and out-of-town visitors can combine a trip to the auction with exploration of one of America's most distinctive cultural landscapes. What distinguishes New Orleans Auction Galleries from other regional houses is its deep knowledge of Southern art and decorative traditions, its access to the extraordinary estate wealth of the Gulf region, and the curatorial quality of its sales. NOAG has a particular eye for the intersection of fine art, decorative arts, and the history of taste in the American South—a nuanced specialty that no other auction house serves as well. Frequently asked questions include what NOAG sells (Southern and international art, Continental and American furniture, jewelry, silver, porcelain, and decorative arts), how fees work (tiered buyer's premium starting at approximately 25 percent; negotiated seller commissions), how to consign (complimentary evaluation by phone, email, or in person), whether online bidding is available (yes, on every sale), and what makes NOAG stand out (deep Southern art expertise, seven major sales per year, and a New Orleans Arts District location).