National Antiques Week 14th – 21st November 2011

To celebrate this year’s National Antiques Week, Homes & Antiques magazine and Antiques News & Fairs (the organizers of National Antiques Week) have joined together to find Britain’s’ best auction house.

From early October until the end of November, the public will be invited to nominate their favourite antiques destinations in five categories: (best antiques shop; best antiques centre; best specialist dealer; best mid-century/vintage shop and best auction house).

Nominators can win one of 10 great prizes, each with a value of around £200, but the prizes for the winning venues are far greater. Not only will they be able to claim to be ‘Britain’s best’ (with all the media opportunities that presents); they will also receive a feature in the May issue of Homes & Antiques.

The winners will be announced at the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair on 8th March 2012.

‘I've found many of my most loved treasures in antiques shops and auction houses - and a few bargains to boot too!’ says author, Antiques Roadshow specialist and spokesperson for the campaign, Mark Hill. ‘Tapping into the expert experience and friendly enthusiasm of dealers makes all the difference. Many have become friends, and I've learnt plenty, making my unique new purchases even more enjoyable when I get them home. Allow your home to speak about your life, loves and experiences, and seek out the individual and the characterful by visiting one of the thousands of antiques shops, fairs and auction houses spread across our country. It's green and wise for your wallet too.’

'This is a great opportunity to raise the profile of Auctioneers and in particular your own saleroom.  It will be fascinating to see who the public vote for!' says Clive Stewart-Lockhart, committee member of National Antiques Week

For more details visit www.homesandantiques.com or www.nationalantiquesweek.co.uk

We are pleased to welcome the following new members to the Society:-

Batemans Auctioneers of Stamford in Lincolnshire, who will be represented by Kate Batman.

James Fletcher, an independent valuer from Tattingstone in Suffolk.

Robert Coram James of Coram James Ltd., an independent valuer from London WC1.

AUCTION ATRIUM IS THE FIRST ONLINE AUCTIONEER TO BE ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE
SOCIETY OF FINE ART AUCTIONEERS AND VALUERS (SOFAA).

Auction Atrium, the Kensington online auction house established in 2006, is honoured to become a
member of SOFAA. Auction Atrium functions in most respects as a traditional auctioneer but differs
in that all auctions take place online at www.auctionatrium.com via a timed online auction where
bids are entered in real time over a fixed period of 5 days.

The Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) is the only professional body exclusively
representing fine art auctioneers and valuers in the UK. SOFAA seeks to promote and encourage the
highest standards of probity and ethics within the profession and to improve knowledge, with its
members supporting the principles of service to all clients and transparency in all activities.

The Society was formed in 1973 to provide a professional body for specialist firms throughout the
United Kingdom. The membership currently includes one of the major London auctioneers as well as
most of the regional auction houses of note.

The Chairman of SOFAA, Paul Viney, commented “I am delighted that Auction Atrium has joined
SOFAA. In an age that is increasingly influenced by technology it seems entirely appropriate that we
should welcome our first online auctioneer member and we look forward to them playing an active
part in the Society in the months and years to come.”

Managing Director of Auction Atrium, Allison Earl Woessner, commented “This is a great step
forward for Auction Atrium as our standards, ethics and level of expertise are validated by our
SOFAA membership and we look forward to the opportunity of sharing ideas with other auctioneers.
The fact that we are the first online auctioneer to become a member of SOFAA shows that our
format is being accepted by the auction establishment and that we can all co-exist in the UK auction
market while utilising the Internet and technology in ways that best suit our individual companies. “

Chairman of Auction Atrium, Paul Whitfield, commented “This is a significant moment in the
growth of Auction Atrium, with its unique business model in the profession. We are delighted to be
joining SOFAA, which represents the best of British auctioneering.”

About Auction Atrium

Auction Atrium is a London based auction house that sells fine art and antiques online. We aim to
combine the integrity, expertise and customer care of the established auction houses with the
dynamism, low transaction costs and versatility of the internet.

We are traditional auctioneers, with a gallery located in Kensington where sellers can take objects to
be valued by our experts, and where interested buyers can inspect items for sale. We are also
online auctioneers. All our lots are viewable on our website, and are bought and sold securely via
online auction.

Allison Earl Woessner T: +44 (0)207 792 9020 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it