Dorotheum is an Austrian auction house founded in 1707 by Emperor Joseph I in Vienna, making it one of the world's oldest auction houses in continuous operation and the largest auction house in Central Europe. Named after the Dorothergasse in central Vienna where its palatial headquarters, the Palais Dorotheum, still stands, the house has been privately owned since 2001.
Dorotheum holds several hundred auctions each year across more than 40 specialist departments, including old master paintings, nineteenth-century and modern art, contemporary art, jewellery, watches, silver, antiques and furniture, design, and classic cars. Its major auction weeks in spring and autumn attract international consignors and bidders, and the house has achieved record results for artists including old masters and Austrian modernists.
Beyond Vienna, Dorotheum maintains international representative offices in cities including Milan, Rome, London, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, and Prague, sourcing consignments across Europe. The house also operates retail and valuation services, including jewellery shops and its long-standing pawnbroking heritage business in Austria.
Catalogues are published online, with bidding available in the saleroom, by phone, in writing, and through Dorotheum's live online bidding platform. Buyer services include condition reports, expert valuations, and shipping arrangements for international clients.