Waddington's Auctioneers & Appraisers

About Waddington's

Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers is Canada's oldest auction house and the country's most comprehensive provider of auction, appraisal, and collection management services. With roots stretching back to 1850 and a modern operation that conducts close to one hundred auctions per year, Waddington's occupies a position in the Canadian market analogous to what Christie's and Sotheby's represent in London and New York.

History

The firm's origins trace to 1850, when Andrew Henderson, originally from Paisley, Scotland, opened auction rooms on Toronto's lower Yonge Street. In 1863 the business relocated to 128 King Street East, where the sign reading C. M. Henderson & Co. Auctioneers hung for the next seventy-five years. The company changed hands and names several times over the decades: in 1939 ownership passed to Frank Waddington, who renamed the house Waddington's, and in 1962 British auctioneer Ronald McLean purchased the firm from Frank's sons. By 1969, growing business required a move to larger premises at 189 Queen Street East.

Today Waddington's is headquartered at 100 Broadview Avenue in Toronto, with satellite offices in Montreal and Vancouver.

Specialist departments

Waddington's employs specialists across a wide range of categories:

• Canadian Fine Art — the firm's flagship department, presenting works by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, historical Canadian painters, and leading contemporary artists such as Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, and Jean-Paul Riopelle; estimates for top lots can reach well into the millions of Canadian dollars
• Inuit and First Nations Art — Waddington's is among the world's foremost authorities in this field, with involvement dating to a landmark 1978 auction of the William Eccles Collection; the firm created Katilvik, a free online reference resource launched in 2006
• Asian Art — regular sales of Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian works
• Decorative Arts and Design — furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, and metalwork from the seventeenth century through the mid-century modern period
• Fine Jewellery, featuring estate pieces, signed designer jewels, and important gemstones, and Fine Wine and Spirits, drawing from some of Canada's finest private cellars

Waddington's conducted its first dedicated Canadian art auction in 1967 at the Queen Elizabeth Building at the CNE and has since become the dominant force in that category.

Selling with Waddington's

Sellers can submit items for evaluation through the website, bring pieces to the Toronto gallery, or request an at-home visit for substantial estates. The firm provides complimentary estimates and advises on auction placement, timing, and marketing strategy. Seller commissions are negotiated on a consignment-by-consignment basis.

Buying and bidding

Buyers pay a tiered buyer's premium, typically starting at 25 percent on the first portion of the hammer price and stepping down for higher amounts, plus applicable Canadian sales taxes. Online bidding is integrated into every sale through the firm's own platform at waddingtons.ca and, for many sales, third-party platforms as well. Absentee and telephone bidding are available for all catalogued auctions, and timed online-only sales complement the live-auction calendar.

What sets Waddington's apart

No other auction house can match Waddington's depth of specialist knowledge in Canadian painting, Inuit sculpture, First Nations art, and the decorative arts traditions unique to the country. This breadth of specialist knowledge allows Waddington's to handle virtually any type of collection or estate, from a single significant canvas to a multi-generational family collection spanning art, furniture, jewelry, and wine. Combined with its roughly one-hundred-and-seventy-five-year history, nationwide presence, and modern technology platform, Waddington's is the essential auction house for anyone buying or selling fine art and luxury goods in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Waddington's founded?

Its roots trace to 1850, when Andrew Henderson opened auction rooms on Toronto's lower Yonge Street; the business took the Waddington's name in 1939.

What does Waddington's specialize in?

Canadian fine art, international art, Asian art, Inuit and First Nations art, decorative arts and design, fine jewellery, and fine wine and spirits.

Can I bid online at Waddington's?

Yes, on every sale, through the firm's own platform at waddingtons.ca as well as third-party platforms, with absentee and telephone bidding also available.