| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auctioneering and valuation |
| Genre | Art and antiques |
| Predecessor | Formerly : Bruton Knowles Fine Art & Antiques |
| Founded | Gloucester, England (1862) |
| Headquarters | Prinknash Abbey Park, Gloucestershire, England |
| Key people | (founding Directors) H.Bailey, Simon R Chorley, Claire Swait (2006-9) |
| Website | SimonChorley.com |
Simon Chorley Art & Antiques is an art auctioneer and art valuation company, based in Gloucester, England. The company was founded in 1862, and conducts auction sales and carries out valuation services for private clients for insurance purposes, probate, family division and sale.[1]
The firm provides expert witnesses to police investigations and to the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as valuation work for identifying and quantifying fine art and antiques seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This work is carried out in conjunction with specialist fraud teams and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.[1]
The company is a member of the Society of Fine Art and Antique Auctioneers and Valuers[2], and observes the Society's code of due diligence for antique valuation as well as sale of chattels.[1]
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The company was formerly the art and antiques division of Bruton Knowles.[3] In 2006 this became Simon Chorley Art & Antiques Ltd[4], when the entire division moved to its current saleroom and offices at Prinknash Abbey Park.
Prinknash Abbey Park is owned by the Benedictine Community who have their Monastery at St Peter's Grange, a 17th century country home previously owned by the Bridgeman family.[5] The saleroom and offices are converted from the monks' old pottery.[6] and were refurbished for the new firm's first sale in January 2007.[7]
As Bruton Knowles Art & Antiques:
As Chorley's:
Auctioneers from Simon Chorley Art & Antiques regularly attend careers events in local schools and colleges and offer work experience and student placements. The firm is involved in the charity, cultural tourism and educational fields in the local Cotswold and wider three counties communities. For example, in 2007 Simon Chorley Art & Antiques, with Stroud Valleys Craftsmen, organized and hosted an exhibition of local arts and crafts made from 1894 onwards; all proceeds went to charity.[11]