SYDNEY.- Bonhams Australia has had a record year and become the leading auction house in the country by turnover just three years after launching in 2010.

The company’s market leadership has been entrenched by dominating the local art market, leading its nearest rivals by almost 100 percent on sales - $31.8m against its $17.3m and $15.2m. Bonhams is Australia’s only international auction house.

Bonhams highpoints for 2013 include:

· Six of the top 10 highest prices achieved at auction for Australian Art

· Six lots sold over $1m

· Set 29 new records for artists

· $31.8m in sales

· $1.5 m in private treaty sales

· No 1 Art Auction House for 2013

· Biggest single owner art collection ever sold – Grundy $20m

· Biggest contemporary art collection sold – Laverty $5.1m

James Hendy, Bonhams CEO Australia, comments: “The company launched its stand-alone brand in 2010 by securing the Owsten collection which sold for $13m. That launch pad saw rapid growth with new people and new sales which created massive energy and today Bonhams is without doubt the number one choice for our Australian clients.”

The company operates today in 27 countries on five continents, holding more than 700 sales each year and regularly smashing world records. This year records were achieved for Old Master Paintings (Fragonard £17.1m), Jewellery (Blue diamond £6.2m), Russian Art (Roerich £7.8m), Indian and Islamic Art(Carved Indian temple step £553,250), Contemporary African Art (Ben Enwonwu Sculpture £361,250) and Collectors’ Cars (1954 Mercedes F1 £20m).