SOFAA

The Society of Fine Art Auctioneers And Valuers (SOFAA) was formed in 1973 to represent fine art and antiques auctioneers and valuers in the UK. Its membership includes a significant number of the leading provincial and specialist salerooms.


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Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) latest members' trip

06 May 2024

The latest regional event for members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) took place in a Somerset country home to preview a private collection of Oriental works.

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SOFAA: why we are an increasingly important voice for the industry

15 April 2024

Helen Carless, chairman of The Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, and the former chairman and managing director of Lawrences of Crewkerne, speaks to ATG about the society’s activities.

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SOFAA crew back on board at yacht club

26 September 2022

Auctioneers and their guests headed to the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers’ (SOFAA) dinner held recently at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge.

Anti-money laundering

Banks close down client accounts for some smaller auction houses due to anti-money laundering rules

15 August 2022

Chattels auction houses operating at the lower end of the market are being told to close client accounts as the banking sector tightens its rules.

Oleksandr Bohomazov's Landscape, Caucasus (undulating composition)

Auction houses ban Russian bidders as sanctions take hold

07 March 2022

A number of UK auction houses have stopped taking bids from buyers in Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

ATG LETTER: SOFAA does not expect a printed catalogue

10 January 2022

The article ‘Doing the bidding of the Amazon generation’ (ATG No 2524), stated that the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers (SOFAA) expects its members to produce a printed catalogue for specialist sales.

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Online sales remain the focus for art and antiques businesses under new coronavirus lockdown restrictions

05 January 2021

Auctions, shops and centres under the new coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England will be able to continue to trade online.

Auction houses and art and antiques dealers to open premises in June

13 May 2020

A government department has confirmed to ATG that auction houses in England will be able to open to the public in June and conduct home valuations, as long as social distancing and the latest government guidelines are met.

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Anti-money laundering regulation - the art market must begin compliance

10 January 2020

The art market must now comply with the latest anti-money laundering law – despite a lack of clarity around some elements of the regulation.

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Time for a shipshape gathering for members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers

24 June 2019

Auctioneers from across the UK attend trade association SOFAA's biennial yacht club dinner.

Parliament

Industry bodies urge collectors and trade to take part in survey on economic impact of Ivory Act

29 January 2019

Industry trade bodies are today launching a survey that will attempt to measure the financial impact of the Ivory Act (2018) which comes into force later this year. Collectors, dealers and auctioneers of antique ivory are being encouraged to take part.

Parliament

IVORY BAN – industry leaders react: “We will draw the government’s attention to the ban’s inconsistencies”

03 April 2018

An idea that began life in 2015 with a Tory government manifesto pledge for a total ban on the UK trade in ivory has finally taken shape, though not as draconian as originally pitched and not yet set in legislative stone.

Data protection

Not ready for new data protection rules? Government launches hotline to help on GDPR

06 November 2017

The government has unveiled a dedicated advice line to help small and micro businesses such as auction houses and dealerships to prepare for new data protection laws coming into force in May 2018.

Elephants ivory

Trade bodies welcome progress in fight against modern elephant poaching

26 October 2017

A new CITES report stating that elephant poaching in Africa declined in 2016 for the fifth year in a row has been welcomed by antiques industry trade body representatives.

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SOFAA dinner 2017 in pictures

10 July 2017

Temperatures are usually high in London when the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers (SOFAA) hosts its biennial dinner and this year was no exception. The heat outside didn’t dissuade attendees from donning black tie and high heels to the event at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge on June 30.

Theresa May

Tory 2017 manifesto: no explicit mention of ivory

18 May 2017

The Conservative's 2017 manifesto launched this morning was dominated by Brexit, social care, education and cyber security but was without the party's intentions on controlling the UK ivory trade. This is in contrast to the 2015 version, which pledged an outright ban on trade in ivory.

Election 2017: time to ‘get our voices heard’

24 April 2017

Trade bodies line up to make the case for art and antiques sector

Honing gavel skills with SOFAA and RICS

11 January 2016

The Society of Fine Arts Auctioneers (SOFAA) and the RICS are holding a seminar in Crewkerne on February 18 aimed at those starting out on their auctioneering career.

SOFAA issue new T&Cs for online selling

02 December 2015

In response to the new Consumer Rights Act, the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers have produced two different versions of their model terms and conditions – one for bricks and mortar ‘onsite’ auctions and another for online-only sales.

Last year in perspective: a view from the SOFAA

19 January 2015

Commenting on the wider marketplace in her capacity as chairman of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers, Helen Carless, chairman and managing director of Lawrences of Crewkerne, gave ATG this brief summary of the feedback received from various SOFAA members.

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