Auctions of the week: paintings, collectible books, frames and porcelain

The week of January 15-21, 2026, represents a transitional phase between the start of major international sales and the Italian calendar. Opening the dances on the national scene is Florence’s historic Libreria Antiquaria Gonnelli. Starting Thursday, Jan. 15, the Tuscan auction house will inaugurate its season withTime Auction No. 66 dedicated to Books, Autographs and Manuscripts. The sale, which will run exclusively online until Tuesday, Jan. 20, features a fine selection of printed volumes and historical documents, a now classic appointment for scholars and antique paper collectors who will be able to bid from the comfort of a remote location. The focus also shifts to Cambi Auction House. The Genoese maison, is still keeping its Antiques General Sale active until January 22.

Continuing in chronological order, we must report the closing of a sale signed Fabiani Arte. The Tuscan auction house is running its first Timed Auction of Modern and Contemporary Art 2026, which will see the beating of the virtual hammer on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The Italian week culminates on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with the return of in-person bargaining. Il Ponte Auction House opens the doors of its Via Pitteri location in Milan for the first round of the Furniture, Paintings, Objects, Books and Oriental Art auction. This is a massive event, spread over three days, which starts right on the 21st and traditionally attracts a huge audience thanks to the variety and quantity of lots on offer, ranging from classic antiques to eclectic collecting.

Moving our gaze across the border, the calendar gets just as busy, with the industry giants alternating between luxury sales and discovery sessions. In New York, Christie’s is still active with a series of online auctions. From Dec. 19 to Jan. 27 they are featuring: COLLECTOR/CONNOISEUR: The Max N. Berry Collections American Art Online Sale and COLLECTOR/CONNOISSEUR: The Max N. Berry Collections Monotypes by Maurice Brazil Prendergast Online Sale, both active from Dec. 19 through Jan. 27. Two other auctions, The American Collector: Including Property of Mr. and Mrs. John D Rockefeller 3rd and Selections From The Collection of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter and Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Featuring a Library Collection of Screaming Eagle: New York Edition Online kick off on Jan. 13 and conclude on Jan. 27.

Sotheby’s, on the other hand, is starring on three fronts: in New York it concludes on Thursday, January 15, The Gem Drop: January, an online sale devoted to jewelry and precious stones perfect for kicking off the year with a sparkling purchase. January 15-19 (also in New York), meanwhile, offers the NBA Auctions Weekly: 2026 NBA Cup, a curious and unmissable event for NBA fans. Just one day later, on Friday, Jan. 16, the house’s London office is launching Contemporary Discoveries, a weeklong online auction featuring works by emerging artists and established names.

On January 15, Dorotheum is active in Vienna with Jugendstil and 20th-century Applied Art auctions and a second Fine Jewelry catalog. Bonhams is also very active, running a series of thematic auctions in several European venues. Among the most curious ones closing just Thursday, Jan. 15, is Layered Living: Textiles, Rugs and Objects run by the Swedish office (Bukowskis), followed on Friday, Jan. 16, by the Statement Pieces - Lighting auction, devoted to designer lighting.

Between Jan. 18 and 21, Bonhams offers a rich Nordic roundup of auctions, featuring objects of very different styles and types. On Jan. 18 there will be sales of coins in Denmark, Japanese paintings and artwork - Winter Edition in Sweden, and Nordic design in Finland, including the lot dedicated to Paavo Tynell. January 19 in Denmark will feature paintings, furniture andvarious objects, while in Sweden collectors’ enthusiasts can follow The Collector ’s World - Part One. For lovers of Scandinavian design and modern art, however, the date to mark is Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the auction house will be beating the Modern Art and Design sale in Denmark (Bruun Rasmussen), a catalog that promises iconic pieces of Nordic design.

Also on the move in London is Phillips, which confirms its focus on contemporary and multiples. In fact, on Tuesday, January 20, the Contemporary Editions online auction opens, a must-attend event for those who collect fine art prints and multiples, a market segment that continues to experience steady growth because of its ability to bring new buyers closer to the art of the great masters.

The show closes Wednesday, Jan. 21, in Paris and Brussels, under the auspices of the Drouot Group. In the French capital, the Ader auction house is offering a niche but fascinating sale, Antique and Modern Frames at the Hôtel Drouot. At the same time, in Brussels, Maison Piasa celebrates local art with an auction dedicated to Modern and Contemporary Belgian Art, confirming the vibrancy of the Belgian art scene on the European scene. On the same day, also in Brussels, Piasa is also active with the Design auction, while from January 16 to 26 it is present online with Mode de vie Parisien #11.

Auctions of the week: paintings, collectible books, frames and porcelain

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