Barnebys
Barnebys operates a global online auction search engine aggregating listings from over 2,000 auction houses across 29+ categories, serving individual collectors and art buyers with free search, while monetizing through seller listing fees, appraisal services, and auction software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Barnebys does
Barnebys operates a global online auction search engine and price comparison platform that aggregates catalogues from over 2,000 trusted auction houses and dealers across 29+ categories, ranging from ancient art and contemporary art to wine, spirits, and vehicles. Founded in 2011 in Stockholm by Gustaf Grapengiesser, Christopher Barnekow, and Pontus Silfverstolpe, the company serves individual collectors and art and antique buyers who use the platform free of charge to search, browse, and monitor listings across fragmented global auction houses. The core technology is a catalogue aggregation engine combined with search alerts, realized price tracking, and an editorial layer (Barnebys Magazine, reaching 200,000+ collectors) used to drive top-of-funnel traffic. Localized country domains across Sweden, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Hong Kong, plus a New York office, support geographic distribution.
The business model is a two-sided marketplace in which auction houses and dealers pay listing fees to access the platform's collector audience, while buyers use the service free. Supplementary revenue streams include transaction-based appraisal fees through the wholly-owned Value My Stuff subsidiary (starting at $28 per appraisal with 24- or 48-hour turnaround), featured/premium listing placements, and the sale of auction management software (Skeleton) to seller partners. The Barnebys Group also includes Collector's Weekly, a content publication covering collectibles from comic books to antique furniture. The platform surfaces approximately 337,580 active auction items at any given time and has cumulatively raised approximately $21.3M from investors including Industrifonden, Active Venture Partners, Inbox Capital, CNI, and others, with the most recent disclosed round of $6.75M in January 2020.
Barnebys firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Barnebys
- Legal name
- Boje Group AB
- Website
- https://barnebys.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Barnebys operates a global online auction search engine aggregating listings from over 2,000 auction houses across 29+ categories, serving individual collectors and art buyers with free search, while monetizing through seller listing fees, appraisal services, and auction software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Barnebys industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Auction Marketplace
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry) (CRAKAKAF)
Keywords
Where Barnebys is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockholm
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Barnebys business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Auction House Listing Fees: Auction houses and dealers pay to list their catalogues on the Barnebys platform, gaining exposure to the platform's global collector audience. This appears to be the primary revenue stream, with the platform explicitly encouraging auction houses to 'Get listed now' and maximize exposure.
- ValueMyStuff Appraisal Service: Barnebys offers an appraisal service powered by ValueMyStuff, where users can purchase valuations for single items (24 or 48 hour turnaround) starting from $28 per appraisal. This creates a transaction fee revenue stream from individual collectors seeking professional valuations.
- Featured/Featured Listings: Premium placement options for auction houses appear available, with certain listings marked as 'Featured' on the platform, suggesting a paid advertising or premium listing model within the marketplace.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free search and browse for collectors |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | ValueMyStuff Appraisal - Standard 48-hour |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | ValueMyStuff Appraisal - Express 24-hour |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Barnebys product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Barnebys operates an online auction search engine and price comparison platform that aggregates listings from over 2,000 trusted auction houses and dealers worldwide into a single searchable interface. The service is free for collectors to search and browse across 29+ categories of art, antiques, and collectibles, while auction houses pay to list their catalogues and gain access to a global collector audience. Supplementary offerings include paid expert appraisals (Value My Stuff), auction management software (Skeleton), and editorial content (Barnebys Magazine).
Product overview
Barnebys operates as a unified online auction search platform that aggregates over 2,000 auction houses and dealers globally. The core product is the Barnebys Auction Search Platform, which enables users to search and browse auction catalogues across multiple categories. This core platform is supplemented by Value My Stuff (an expert appraisal service), Skeleton (comprehensive auction management software), Collector's Weekly (a collector-focused newsletter reaching 200,000+ subscribers), and Barnebys Magazine (editorial content about the art and antiques market). The platform supports 29 distinct auction categories spanning from Ancient Art to Wine & Spirits, and lists approximately 337,580 items currently for sale. The company is owned by Boje Group AB and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Barnebys Magazine: Editorial content covering auction news, market insights, and featured lots
- Value My Stuff
- Skeleton
- Collector's Weekly
Products and services
- Barnebys Auction Search Platform
- Value My Stuff Appraisal Service
- Skeleton Auction Software
- Collector's Weekly
Quantifiable outcome
- 200,000+ collectors reading Barnebys Magazine
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Barnebys
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Barnebys technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Barnebys partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Value My StuffcoreValue My Stuff provides the appraisal technology powering Barnebys' online appraisal service. The partnership offers collectors professional valuations from experts formerly of Sotheby's and Christie's, with 24/48 hour turnaround times starting from $28. This integrated service adds a monetization layer and increases user engagement on the platform.
- Skeleton (Barnebys Group)coreSkeleton provides comprehensive auction software covering everything from consignment to payment, offered under the Barnebys Group umbrella. This software solution supports auction house partners in managing their operations while integrating with the Barnebys marketplace platform.
- Sotheby'sflagshipOne of the world's leading auction houses listing on the Barnebys platform. Sotheby's presence validates the platform's credibility and attracts high-value collectors seeking fine art and luxury collectibles.
- Christie'sflagshipMajor international auction house partner listing on Barnebys. Christie's participation brings prestige and high-value inventory to the platform, including notable sales like the Mark Rothko from Agnes Gund's collection for $98.4 million.
- DorotheumcoreLeading Austrian and European auction house listing on Barnebys, serving the Central European collector market and adding breadth to the platform's international inventory.
- CatawikicoreEuropean auction platform partner listing on Barnebys, particularly active in categories like sports cards, vinyl records, and collectibles, expanding the platform's reach in those verticals.
- BukowskiscoreNordic auction house partner bringing Scandinavian art and antiques to the Barnebys platform, serving the Nordic collector audience within the Barnebys ecosystem.
- Bruun RasmussencoreDenmark's largest auction house listing on Barnebys, providing Scandinavian inventory and reaching the Danish collector community through the platform.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Barnebys competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LiveAuctioneers: LiveAuctioneers is a leading online auction aggregator connecting bidders with auction houses worldwide. It is the closest direct competitor to Barnebys in aggregating art, antiques, and collectibles listings into a single searchable marketplace.
- Invaluable: Invaluable operates an online auction aggregation platform for fine art, antiques, and collectibles, partnering with thousands of auction houses globally. It mirrors Barnebys' core marketplace model and bidder experience.
- The Saleroom: The Saleroom aggregates live online auctions from UK and international auction houses, particularly strong in the British antiques market. It competes directly with Barnebys' UK domain (.co.uk) for collector attention.
- Bidsquare: Bidsquare is an online auction aggregation platform for premier auction houses, focusing on fine art, jewelry, and antiques. Its positioning around premium houses and bidding experience directly competes with Barnebys' enterprise seller base.
- Catawiki: Catawiki runs moderated online auctions across collectibles categories and is both a Barnebys listing partner and a competitor. It bundles listing aggregation with native bidding and payments, offering a more vertically integrated alternative.
- Lot-tissimo: Lot-tissimo aggregates online auctions across Europe, with strong penetration in France, Belgium, and Germany. It competes directly with Barnebys' European localized domains for regional collector audiences.
Broad incumbents
- Artnet: Artnet is an established art-market platform providing price databases, auction listings, and galleries coverage. It overlaps with Barnebys' auction aggregation and realized-price functionality but serves a broader art-market audience.
- Artsy: Artsy operates a global online art marketplace with auction listings, galleries, and editorial content. It competes with Barnebys in the discovery layer for fine art collectors and adjacent auction listings.
- Bonhams: Bonhams is a major traditional auction house with a strong online platform for art, antiques, and collectibles. As both a potential Barnebys listing partner and a direct competitor for high-end collector eyeballs, it represents an incumbent threat.
Emerging players
- Heritage Auctions: Heritage Auctions is one of the world's largest auction houses specializing in collectibles, comics, coins, and memorabilia with a strong online bidding platform. It competes with Barnebys' collectibles categories and operates its own destination marketplace.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Barnebys social profiles
Digital presenceBarnebys financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Barnebys leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Barnebys subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Barnebys funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Barnebys M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Barnebys
What does Barnebys do?
Barnebys operates an online auction search engine and price comparison platform that aggregates listings from over 2,000 trusted auction houses and dealers worldwide into a single searchable interface. The service is free for collectors to search and browse across 29+ categories of art, antiques, and collectibles, while auction houses pay to list their catalogues and gain access to a global collector audience. Supplementary offerings include paid expert appraisals (Value My Stuff), auction management software (Skeleton), and editorial content (Barnebys Magazine).
Is Barnebys a public or private company?
Barnebys is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Barnebys founded?
Barnebys was founded in 2011. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Barnebys based?
Barnebys is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Barnebys make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Auction House Listing Fees are the primary driver. The others are valueMyStuff Appraisal Service and featured/Featured Listings.
Who are Barnebys's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, The Saleroom, Bidsquare, Catawiki and Lot-tissimo. Broad incumbents are Artnet, Artsy and Bonhams. Heritage Auctions is listed as an emerging player.
Does Barnebys have an API?
No public API is recorded for Barnebys.
What industry is Barnebys in?
Barnebys's product category is Online Auction Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAAAC, Auction-based Generalist Marketplaces, with a secondary code of CRAKAKAF, Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry).