Pandolfini

About Pandolfini

Pandolfini Casa d'Aste is Italy's leading auction house, a distinction earned through a century of continuous operation, deep specialist expertise, and a track record of outstanding results across multiple collecting categories. Founded in 1924 by Cavalier Luigi Pandolfini in Florence, the firm has grown from a local furniture and decorative arts business into a national institution with salerooms in Florence, Milan, and Rome, and a viewing presence in London.

History

Luigi Pandolfini, born in Florence on April 19, 1887, started his working life in 1924 by selling furniture, furnishings, and works of art entrusted to him by various customers, rooted in the rich artistic heritage of Tuscany — Renaissance furniture, Old Master paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts of exceptional historical value. In the second half of the 1940s, the firm began organizing formal auctions with increasing frequency, handling material from grand hotels, the homes and villas of Florentine nobility, and important private collections. In the early 1950s, Pandolfini moved to its present headquarters on the piano nobile of Palazzo Ramirez Montalvo at Borgo degli Albizi 26 in Florence, where the publication of printed catalogues began.

Specialist departments

Today, Pandolfini is Italy's leading auction house by turnover for the decade 2015 to 2025. The auction calendar spans a comprehensive range of categories:

• Old Master Paintings and Drawings
• Nineteenth-Century Art
• Modern and Contemporary Art
• Furniture and Decorative Arts
• Jewelry and Silverware, Watches
• Design and Oriental Art
• Fine and Rare Wines, and Antiquities

In recent years the firm has expanded into categories more commonly associated with the international auction circuit, including design and fine wines. The Fine Wines department has been particularly successful, with 2025 marking a record year — three auctions generating total revenue exceeding 2.5 million euros. The firm has also set notable records in Old Master paintings, including a landmark result for a sixteenth-century work by Giorgio Vasari in the Masterpieces from Italian Collections sale.

Locations

Auctions are held in Milan and Florence, with lots from the catalogue displayed across both cities; the firm also maintains offices in Rome and has viewing spaces in London, providing international exposure for key consignments. This multi-city model allows Pandolfini to attract consignments from across Italy and present them to a global audience.

Selling and buying with Pandolfini

For sellers, the consignment process begins with a valuation, available at any of Pandolfini's offices or through online submission. The specialist team provides estimates and advises on the optimal sale category and timing, and handles cataloguing, photography, condition reporting, and marketing in-house, with commission rates negotiated at consignment and favorable terms for significant collections. Buyers can participate in person at the Milan or Florence salerooms, by telephone, by absentee bid, or through the firm's online bidding platform. A buyer's premium is charged on all lots, with the current percentage published in the conditions of sale, and international shipping can be arranged through the firm.

What sets Pandolfini apart

The firm's century-long association with Tuscan art and antiques gives it unrivaled credibility in Italian decorative arts and Old Master material, while its expansion into modern categories like design and wine demonstrates an ability to evolve with the market without diluting its core strengths. The firm's approach to client service reflects its Florentine heritage — personal, knowledgeable, and attentive to detail — whether advising a first-time seller or managing the dispersal of a major private collection, and the valuation service is available at no obligation. Pandolfini's growth over the past decade, culminating in its position as Italy's leading auction house by turnover, and its growing international profile, position the firm well for continued growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Pandolfini and when?

Pandolfini Casa d'Aste was founded in 1924 by Cavalier Luigi Pandolfini in Florence.

Where is Pandolfini's headquarters?

Pandolfini's headquarters occupies the piano nobile of Palazzo Ramirez Montalvo at Borgo degli Albizi 26 in Florence, with additional salerooms in Milan and Rome and a viewing space in London.

What records has Pandolfini's Fine Wines department set?

In 2025, Pandolfini's Fine Wines department had a record year, with three auctions generating total revenue exceeding 2.5 million euros.