The Edinburgh Auction Centre

We moved into our current out of town premises at Rosewell, an old Gothenburg tavern with oak ships' panelling throughout, back in 2008 but we have been serving the Edinburgh and Lothians area since the latter years of the 20th century. Prior to our move to the Rosewell Auction Centre premises we could be found conducting auctions at Hardengreen, Eskbank, Oxenfoord Castle, Pathhead and Surgeons' Hall in Edinburgh. You may remember us from visiting our office in Edinburgh City centre in Moray Place in the early 2000’s.

Perhaps you have seen a member of the team on one of the auction television programs that we appear on which include Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, Dickinson’s Real Deal, Cash in the Attic or the much missed Flog It! Tune in to our new television series, The Edinburgh Auction House, following the Scottish team as they travel around the country searching for exciting lots to sell.  

Click here to delve further into the Thomson family’s 140-year history in the world of auctioneering.

The Auctions

The Edinburgh branch conducts around 30 auctions annually with those auctions typically being split into three distinct categories; The Antique Auction; The Collectors Auction and The Home Furnishing & Interiors Auction. All auctions at this branch are held on a Thursday with only occasional exceptions including our online only coin auctions (a spin off from the Collectors auctions) which conclude over a weekend.

Antique auctions are held bi-monthly, with typically 400 to 600 lots on offer and bring together the most sought after and higher value items identified by the following specialist departments in the previous two-month period. These include Oriental & Asian, African & Tribal, Silver, Jewellery, Clocks & Watches, Paintings, Porcelain, 20^th Century Design and Furniture.

Collectors auctions are held every eight to twelve weeks and include items from private collections and clearances identified by the following specialist departments in the previous two to three month period: Toys & Model Railways, Whisky & Wine, Postcards & Stamps, Coins & Banknotes and Medals & Militaria.

These Antique and Collectors auctions are held in the auction room but also broadcast online on our website and on major auction portal websites so that a global audience is reached. Click the individual departments above to find out more.

The remaining 20 or so auctions held annually are the Home Furnishings & Interiors auctions (in the past, colloquially known as “general sales”). These auctions are populated with items from house clearances, deceased estates and consignments by private clients. Here you will find decorative ceramics, jewellery, gold and silver, books, vintage trunks and cases, 20th century design, vintage and retro items, furniture, rugs, collectables, glassware, lamps, pictures and a broad and eclectic mix of other chattels, with something for everyone.

These Home Furnishings & Interiors auctions are broadcast online, and online bidding can be accessed by registering an account with thomsonroddick.com or easyliveauction.com. Viewing days at the saleroom are the day prior to the auction, although the auction is usually published online the Friday before the Thursday auction. If you are looking for something in particular then give our staff a call or email and we will endeavour to assist.

If you have never bid with us before then see our "How To Bid" page.

Valuations

The valuation team based at the Edinburgh branch is headed by Gavin Durward Tavendale (Edinburgh & The Lothians and Fife & Perthshire) and supported by auctioneers and valuers Sybelle Thomson (Midlothian) and Dennis Clark (Lanarkshire), our independent valuer Frank Forrest (Scottish Borders), and are further supported by our in-house auctioneering staff.

We can provide valuations or advice for auction purposes over email and telephone, by home visit or by appointment at the auction room. Drop-in valuation mornings are held in the auction room every second Monday between 09:00 and 14:30. See the auction events page for further details. 

Valuations for Inheritance Tax or Insurance purposes are conducted throughout Scotland, we have even travelled as far north as Shetland to carry out a valuation in the past.

If you are looking for a valuation for any of these purposes, or just some general advice on selling or buying at auction, then contact the Edinburgh branch on 0131 440 2448 or by email to edinburgh@thomsonroddick.com