The largest collectibles auctioneer in the world, Heritage Auctions is a privately owned company, with headquarters in Dallas, Texas and offices in New York City, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, Palm Beach, and Houston, and locations in Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and France. Heritage combines both proxy and live Internet bidding with traditional floor auctions. In both 1999 and 2001, www.HeritageCoin.com, the predecessor to www.HA.com, was chosen by Forbes Magazine as one of the 250 best sites on the Internet. Heritage hosts separate website sections for each type of collectible they support and each lot's web listing contains third-party pricing and rarity data. In 2014, Heritage's total sales exceeded $969 million, a single year record for any collectibles firm. As of January 2, 2015, Heritage had over 850,000 registered online bidders.
Heritage has been the leader in selling luxury items on the secondary market for the past 5 years. In addition to the floor auctions, on-line sales, trunk shows and high end store sales Heritage Auctions has a request department, so if you are looking for something extra-special that you cannot find, Heritage will find it for you. They sell over $15 million in luxury handbags alone each year, making Heritage Auctions the world leader in the secondary market for luxury handbags.
Q&A with Kathleen Guzman, Managing Director of Heritage Auctions
Kathleen Guzman is a recognized appraiser and auctioneer with 40 years of experience in the art and antiques industry. She has personally auctioned over 1,500 sales with over 500,000 objects valued at over a half billion dollars. She brings 15 years experience from the world-renowned international auction house Christie's, selling such items as a Monet watercolor for $4.3 million and the Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" for $660,000. She was the former president of Christie's East and president of Phillips Auctioneers, as well as senior vice president of business development at Ebay.
Ms. Guzman is frequently quoted in print and radio and has been seen on television regarding the art and antiques market, and as a spokesperson for the art market on such shows as "Oprah," "Good Morning America," "Today," on CNN, and "Sally Jessy Raphael." She has been an on-air host for Good Life TV, a host at QVC, and a frequent guest for the new Treasure channel satellite cable station, "Treasure Seekers," and Metro TV's "Antique Show and Sell." She also has co-starred for the pilot TV show "For What It's Worth" with Robin Leach and is a contributing editor to the "Miller's Antique Collector's Books" writing articles. She was the director of Hubert Gallery, specializing in Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso for two years, and is now professionally an independent consultant, a USPAP-certified art appraiser, writer, and charity auctioneer.
She holds an executive MBA from Columbia University and has a master's degree in art history from Queen's College. Ms. Guzman lectures extensively on the art market for the American Appraiser's Association, New York University, Bard College, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ms. Guzman also auctions extensively for charitable causes including Make-a-Wish, Juvenile Diabetes, and the American Craft Museum, to name a few, with such noted celebrities as Buck Henry, Tony Randall, and Dr. Ruth.
Her present and past clients include Bloomberg, Inc., the estate of Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Playboy Magazine, the estate of General Tom Thumb, and the collection of the artist John Graham.
What is your role with Heritage Auctions?
I run the New York office for Heritage Auctions but I am also a USPAP-certified art appraiser.
How did you get started in the industry?
I’ve been in the auction business for almost 40 years now. I finished my masters in art history and had a hard time finding a job. My friend worked at an auction house and she suggested I go work there for a little while. I was immediately hooked.
What do you like best about Heritage Auctions?
I love Heritage Auctions because we concentration on people’s passions. We sell in 40 different categories focused on collectibles. The collectors have a passion and a drive which is so compelling it pulls you in. I think that’s why I love being an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, because whether it has monetary value or not, the people have an emotional connection to it, which gives it a wealth of meaning.
Why does Heritage Auctions support charities?
We have a charity division that holds on-line charity auctions and as an offshoot to that we donate the service of our auctioneers to charity events. It’s a good way to get the name out to a new audience while doing something good in return. Personally, I’ve been a charity auctioneer for a number of years. While I’m not in the position to necessarily write the big checks, I’m able to use my skills to help bring the needed money in for the organization and that feels wonderful.
What is one of the most unique items you have had in the auction house?
There are so many! For me personally, I think one of the most interesting was Vivien Leigh’s gown from Gone with the Wind. The one she wore while she was in Shanty Town. I knew the collector and contacted him personally. He sold the gown through Heritage. It was one of hundreds of items in a special Gone with the Wind sale and it sold for $137,000. What was so interesting about seeing it in person is realizing how small Vivien was and how wasp-like her waist was in the dress. We see a lot of thin models nowadays but no one today is as small as Vivien was in 1939. That’s what makes it so interesting, being able to see and experience an item like that in person.
We are thrilled to have Heritage Auctions join us for Book of Hope. Why did you choose to participate in CCFA’s event?
(Guest speaker) Michael Tonello. There are some people who, when they call you and ask you to come, you say yes without even knowing where it is. You do this because you know if that person is involved, it is something wonderful and worthwhile. Heritage Auctions is excited to join him in supporting the Book of Hope Luncheon.
Heritage Auctions will have a mini trunk show during the event. Can you tell us what guests can expect?
We will be bringing 10-12 Hermes Kelly bags and Birkins for private sale, as well as 10-12 diamond and gold jewelry pieces by Piranesi. These are all from private collectors, and if any items sell during the limited edition trunk sale, we will give a percentage of sales to CCFA, so everyone wins!
Heritage has been the leader in selling luxury items on the secondary market for the past 5 years. In addition to the floor auctions, on-line sales, trunk shows and high end store sales Heritage Auctions has a request department, so if you are looking for something extra-special that you cannot find, Heritage will find it for you. They sell over $15 million in luxury handbags alone each year, making Heritage Auctions the world leader in the secondary market for luxury handbags.
Q&A with Kathleen Guzman, Managing Director of Heritage Auctions
Kathleen Guzman is a recognized appraiser and auctioneer with 40 years of experience in the art and antiques industry. She has personally auctioned over 1,500 sales with over 500,000 objects valued at over a half billion dollars. She brings 15 years experience from the world-renowned international auction house Christie's, selling such items as a Monet watercolor for $4.3 million and the Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" for $660,000. She was the former president of Christie's East and president of Phillips Auctioneers, as well as senior vice president of business development at Ebay.
Ms. Guzman is frequently quoted in print and radio and has been seen on television regarding the art and antiques market, and as a spokesperson for the art market on such shows as "Oprah," "Good Morning America," "Today," on CNN, and "Sally Jessy Raphael." She has been an on-air host for Good Life TV, a host at QVC, and a frequent guest for the new Treasure channel satellite cable station, "Treasure Seekers," and Metro TV's "Antique Show and Sell." She also has co-starred for the pilot TV show "For What It's Worth" with Robin Leach and is a contributing editor to the "Miller's Antique Collector's Books" writing articles. She was the director of Hubert Gallery, specializing in Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso for two years, and is now professionally an independent consultant, a USPAP-certified art appraiser, writer, and charity auctioneer.
She holds an executive MBA from Columbia University and has a master's degree in art history from Queen's College. Ms. Guzman lectures extensively on the art market for the American Appraiser's Association, New York University, Bard College, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Ms. Guzman also auctions extensively for charitable causes including Make-a-Wish, Juvenile Diabetes, and the American Craft Museum, to name a few, with such noted celebrities as Buck Henry, Tony Randall, and Dr. Ruth.
Her present and past clients include Bloomberg, Inc., the estate of Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, Playboy Magazine, the estate of General Tom Thumb, and the collection of the artist John Graham.
What is your role with Heritage Auctions?
I run the New York office for Heritage Auctions but I am also a USPAP-certified art appraiser.
How did you get started in the industry?
I’ve been in the auction business for almost 40 years now. I finished my masters in art history and had a hard time finding a job. My friend worked at an auction house and she suggested I go work there for a little while. I was immediately hooked.
What do you like best about Heritage Auctions?
I love Heritage Auctions because we concentration on people’s passions. We sell in 40 different categories focused on collectibles. The collectors have a passion and a drive which is so compelling it pulls you in. I think that’s why I love being an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, because whether it has monetary value or not, the people have an emotional connection to it, which gives it a wealth of meaning.
Why does Heritage Auctions support charities?
We have a charity division that holds on-line charity auctions and as an offshoot to that we donate the service of our auctioneers to charity events. It’s a good way to get the name out to a new audience while doing something good in return. Personally, I’ve been a charity auctioneer for a number of years. While I’m not in the position to necessarily write the big checks, I’m able to use my skills to help bring the needed money in for the organization and that feels wonderful.
What is one of the most unique items you have had in the auction house?
There are so many! For me personally, I think one of the most interesting was Vivien Leigh’s gown from Gone with the Wind. The one she wore while she was in Shanty Town. I knew the collector and contacted him personally. He sold the gown through Heritage. It was one of hundreds of items in a special Gone with the Wind sale and it sold for $137,000. What was so interesting about seeing it in person is realizing how small Vivien was and how wasp-like her waist was in the dress. We see a lot of thin models nowadays but no one today is as small as Vivien was in 1939. That’s what makes it so interesting, being able to see and experience an item like that in person.
We are thrilled to have Heritage Auctions join us for Book of Hope. Why did you choose to participate in CCFA’s event?
(Guest speaker) Michael Tonello. There are some people who, when they call you and ask you to come, you say yes without even knowing where it is. You do this because you know if that person is involved, it is something wonderful and worthwhile. Heritage Auctions is excited to join him in supporting the Book of Hope Luncheon.
Heritage Auctions will have a mini trunk show during the event. Can you tell us what guests can expect?
We will be bringing 10-12 Hermes Kelly bags and Birkins for private sale, as well as 10-12 diamond and gold jewelry pieces by Piranesi. These are all from private collectors, and if any items sell during the limited edition trunk sale, we will give a percentage of sales to CCFA, so everyone wins!