NORFOLK AUCTION HOUSE ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO MEET GROWING DEMAND

East Anglia’s leading regional auction house has announced a programme of investment at its four acre Norfolk saleroom site to enable further expansion after the most successful year in its history.

Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, which was established in 1953 and is based in the Norfolk market town of Aylsham, is expanding its salerooms for the second time in three years, reflecting the auction house’s growing reputation in the region, nationally and internationally.

The firm says that embracing the opportunities presented by the internet is enabling it to compete with larger national auction houses.

The expansion plans, which will be completed in time for the 2018 auction calendar, include:

• moving the Fine Art auctions to a larger, refurbished saleroom
• creating a bespoke saleroom for the firm’s Antiques and Interiors sales, which will take place fortnightly from January 2018
• the Antiques and Interiors sales will now be on alternate weeks, separate from the popular and growing General Sales, which will be expanded and enhanced to take place fortnightly from January 2018
• the creation of a sizeable bespoke saleroom for the firm’s Books & Ephemera department, which is recognised as one of the leading centres of excellence in the UK
• building a new reception and administration area, to include a new valuation room, a consultation room, and a photographic studio
• further investment in technology to ensure that the firm remains at the cutting edge of online auctions

Kevin Lines, general manager and head of fine art at Keys, said, “The past two years have been the busiest we have ever had at Keys, and we are making this significant investment now to ensure that we have the capacity to continue meeting growing demand for our services.

“The Antique and Interiors sales which have been running alongside our General Sales have now grown to such an extent that we are creating a bespoke saleroom for them, and separating them from the General Sales.  Bigger, bespoke salerooms for our Fine Art and Books & Ephemera departments reflect our growing stature in these areas.

“Our Fine Sales, Book & Ephemera Sales, Fine Art Sales and specialist sales have all seen considerable growth over the past two years, as we attract more vendors and buyers from within East Anglia and from further afield, encouraged by our embracing of the latest online auction technology.

“We are now winning sales from established national players, such as the Royal Society of Marine Artists Diploma Sale next year, which we won against competition from all of the major London houses.

“This investment programme will cement our position as the leading East Anglian auction house, as well as positioning Keys as a player on the national stage.”