Toovey's

About Toovey's

Toovey's is one of the premier auction houses in the south of England, widely regarded as a leading auctioneer of fine art, antiques, and collectibles in the Southeast. Founded in 1995 by Rupert Toovey at Spring Gardens in Washington, West Sussex, the firm has grown from a regional start-up into a respected institution with a loyal following among collectors, dealers, and private sellers across the UK and beyond.

History

The founding of Toovey's was well-timed and strategic. Rupert Toovey had spent seven years helping to establish Bellman's Fine Art Auctioneers in nearby Wisborough Green, gaining deep experience in the regional auction market. When Sotheby's closed its regional centers in the early 1990s, including the Summers Place facility in Billingshurst, a significant gap opened in the Sussex antiques market. Toovey seized the opportunity and recruited several specialists displaced by Sotheby's restructuring, either as full-time staff or consultants, giving the new firm instant credibility and depth.

Specialist departments

From its base at Spring Gardens, Washington, a purpose-built facility in the South Downs countryside, Toovey's conducts monthly catalogue sales of antiques, fine art, and collectors' items organized into specialist departments, spanning from connoisseur pieces to affordable furnishings. Core departments include:

• Fine Art (British and European paintings, watercolors, and prints)
• Antique Furniture
• Silver and Jewelry
• Ceramics and Glass
• Books and Manuscripts
• Stamps and Postal History
• Postcards and Ephemera
• Rugs and Textiles
• Coins and Medals
• Toys and Collectibles
• Automobilia
• Arts and Crafts

The firm is particularly noted for British Studio Pottery, holding dedicated studio pottery auctions twice a year alongside specialist Arts and Crafts sales, with strong results for names including Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach, and Reginald Fairfax Wells. Stamps and Postal History is another specialty, with quarterly specialist auctions combined with sales of postcards, cigarette cards, and paper collectibles that draw a dedicated philatelist community. Books and Manuscripts also receive dedicated attention, with regular sales including antiquarian books, modern first editions, maps, and literary ephemera.

Selling with Toovey's

Valuations are available at the Spring Gardens premises, through online submission, or by appointment at the seller's home for larger collections. The specialist team provides estimates and advises on the most appropriate sale format and timing, and handles all cataloguing, photography, and marketing. Commission rates are competitive with other leading regional houses and are discussed at the time of consignment.

Buying and bidding

Buyers can participate in person at Washington, by telephone, by absentee bid, or via the firm's online bidding platform, which partners with the-saleroom.com and other online auction platforms for global access. A buyer's premium is applied to all lots, with the current rate published in the conditions of sale for each auction. Comprehensive online catalogues with high-resolution photography and detailed lot descriptions, plus condition reports on request, have broadened the buyer base, with international bidders accounting for a growing share of sales.

What sets Toovey's apart

Toovey's combines breadth and specialist depth in a single regional house, serving both generalist sellers such as executors handling diverse estates and specialist collectors seeking rare material. The rural Sussex setting offers a more relaxed and intimate auction experience than the London houses, and the Spring Gardens auction rooms have become a destination in their own right, with viewing days drawing visitors from across the South of England. Rupert Toovey remains a well-known figure in the antiques world and a regular contributor to regional media, and the firm's 30-year track record and specialist knowledge make it one of the most rewarding auction houses to follow in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded Toovey's and when?

Toovey's was founded in 1995 by Rupert Toovey at Spring Gardens in Washington, West Sussex.

What is Toovey's known for?

Toovey's is particularly noted for British Studio Pottery, with dedicated auctions twice a year featuring names such as Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, and Bernard Leach, as well as quarterly Stamps and Postal History sales.

How can buyers bid at Toovey's sales?

Buyers can bid in person at Washington, by telephone, by absentee bid, or online through the firm's platform, which partners with the-saleroom.com and other auction platforms.