Webb’s - Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers

What Webb’s - Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers does

Webb's is a New Zealand-headquartered specialist auction house founded in 1976, operating nine auction departments — Works of Art, Art Online, Select, Collectors' Cars/Motorcycles & Automobilia, Fine Wines & Whiskies, Fine Jewels/Watches & Luxury Accessories, The Estate, Asian Art, Decorative Arts, and Material Culture — alongside Single Owner Collections and ancillary services including complimentary appraisals, insurance valuations, private sales, and an Auction Pricing Calculator. The company runs live and timed online auctions through a proprietary auction portal (auctions.webbs.co.nz), supported by physical galleries in Auckland (headquarters) and Wellington, plus a Christchurch contact office, with national touring previews for marquee single-owner consignments.

Webb's monetises primarily through transaction-based fees: a buyer's premium applied to the hammer price and a seller's commission paid by consignors. Additional revenue streams include insurance valuations (professional services), printed catalogues (one-time fees), and private sales. Customer segments span five primary personas — Art Collectors, Wine & Spirits Collectors, Luxury Goods Collectors (notably Hermès Birkin bags, for which Webb's is effectively the NZ secondary-market channel given the absence of Hermès retail in NZ), Collectors' Cars, and Estate & Design Enthusiasts — plus secondary segments in Asian Art and Material Culture.

Distribution combines specialist-led direct consignment engagement, physical viewing rooms and selling exhibitions, a Shopify e-commerce storefront, and the proprietary online auction portal accessed globally. The company is privately held, employs 11–50 staff, and serves a mix of long-tail individual collectors and marquee enterprise consignors (e.g., Sir Miles Warren's Ōchinetahi estate, John Bergin / Auckland Wine Club). Notable recent outcomes include a 90% sell-through on the Warren collection (raising NZD $500,000), a white-glove (100%) result on the ~900-lot Auckland Wine Club cellar, individual art lots reaching NZD $525,800 (Bill Hammond's Wishbone Ash Stash 2), and over NZD $1 million of Mercedes-Benz Pagoda sales in five months. Technology footprint is conventional: no public APIs, no disclosed AI/ML capability, and platform components rely on Squarespace-cdn-hosted web properties and Shopify rather than proprietary AI infrastructure.

Name

Webb’s - Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers

Legal name

Webb's

Website

https://webbs.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Webb's is New Zealand's longest-established specialist auction house (founded 1976), running live and online auctions across nine departments — art, wine, jewellery, collector cars, design and decorative arts — for collectors, estates and luxury-goods buyers in NZ and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Auctioneer & Valuation Services

NAICS

Art Dealers (45992)

SIC

Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)

akta.pro primary industry

Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry) (CRAKAKAF)

Keywords

• Fine art auctions
• Collector car auctions
• Wine whisky auctions
• Luxury goods auctions
• Insurance valuations

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Auction Commissions (Buyer's Premium): Webb's charges a buyer's premium on all auction sales, calculated as a percentage of the hammer price. The premium is added to the winning bid to determine the total purchase price payable by the buyer. This is the primary revenue driver for the auction house.
2. Auction Commissions (Seller's Commission): Consignors pay a seller's commission fee for the privilege of selling through Webb's auction platform. The company handles valuation, catalogue production, marketing, and settlement.
3. Insurance Valuations: Webb's offers insurance valuation services for jewellery, art, and collectibles, providing documented valuations for insurance purposes.
4. Printed Catalogues: Physical and potentially digital printed catalogues are available for purchase, supporting the auction and valuation services.
5. Private Sales: A private sales service is offered as an alternative to auction, where the company facilitates discreet transactions outside the auction process, likely earning a commission on the negotiated sale price.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Webb's is a multi-department specialist auction house operating live and online auctions across art, fine wines and whiskies, jewellery, watches, luxury accessories, collector vehicles, Asian art, decorative arts, and material culture. The company also provides complimentary auction appraisals, insurance valuations, and private sale brokerage, supported by physical galleries in Auckland and Wellington and a proprietary online auction portal.

Product overview

Webb's is New Zealand's premier auction house, established in 1976, operating a multi-category auction platform with live and online sales. The core offering consists of nine auction departments: Works of Art (premiere live auctions), Art Online (accessible online art), Select (curated online art), Collectors' Cars/Motorcycles & Automobilia, Fine Wines & Whiskies, Fine Jewels/Watches & Luxury Accessories, The Estate (fortnightly design and homeware), Asian Art, Decorative Arts, and Material Culture. These operate alongside Single Owner Collections (curated private collections) and services including appraisals, valuations, private sales, and an Auction Price Calculator. The Wellington Gallery hosts selling exhibitions. The company serves collectors across New Zealand and internationally through its Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Estate: Fortnightly online auction dedicated to everyday objects including kitchenware, furniture, design pieces, and collectables
• Works of Art
• Select
• Art Online
• Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Products and services

• Works of Art Webb's premiere live auction of museum-quality New Zealand and international artworks by leading artists, presented multiple times per year with nationwide exhibitions and touring previews. Aimed at established collectors, institutions, and high-net-worth buyers seeking investment-grade pieces.
• Art Online Online art auction spanning historic to very contemporary works at accessible price points, designed for new and established collectors with estimates ranging from under NZD $2,000 to over NZD $1,000,000.
• Select Curated online art auction presenting hand-picked collectible works by significant artists, selected by Webb's specialist team for collectors seeking vetted examples of notable art.
• Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia Live and online auctions for collector vehicles, motorcycles, and automobilia, featuring blue-chip European classics (Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Porsche), rare New Zealand-associated vehicles, and special single-owner collections.
• Fine Wines & Whiskies Live and online auctions for fine wines and whiskies, including single-owner collections and entire cellar liquidations spanning New Zealand, European, American, and South African producers with documented provenance.
• Fine Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories Online and live auctions for fine jewellery, luxury timepieces (Rolex, Patek Philippe), and luxury accessories such as Hermès Birkin bags, which have no primary retail market in New Zealand.
• The Estate Fortnightly online auction dedicated to everyday collectable objects including kitchenware, cutlery, lighting, textiles, furniture, and design pieces spanning mid-century icons to contemporary finds. Launched in 2022 and reached its 100th auction.
• The Estate | Design Edit Annual curated online auction and in-person exhibition specifically focused on collectable design, bringing together mid-century furniture, lighting, modernist objects, and designer pieces.
• Asian Art Live and online auctions featuring Asian art, antiques, and collectables spanning various periods and styles.
• Decorative Arts Auctions covering decorative arts spanning from early-European antiques to mid-20th century modernist design pieces.
• Material Culture Live auction category exploring how objects carry memory and meaning across generations and changing cultural contexts, including ancestral taonga (Māori cultural treasures) and global antiquities.
• Single Owner Collections Curated auction format for single-owner private collections offered through live or online auctions, featuring works assembled by collectors with sustained engagement and deep knowledge.
• Auction Appraisal Service Complimentary, no-obligation auction appraisals and valuations for market purposes, conducted by specialist teams across all departments to assist sellers in deciding on consignment.
• Insurance Valuations Documented valuation services for insurance purposes covering jewellery, art, and collectibles, provided by Webb's specialist departments.
• Private Sales Service Private brokerage service for sellers seeking discreet, negotiated transactions outside the public auction process, typically for high-value or sensitive items where privacy is desired.
• Wellington Gallery Selling Exhibitions Selling exhibitions at Webb's Wellington gallery featuring contemporary art, including curated exhibitions and the IHC Art Awards, providing an alternative sales channel to traditional auctions.

Quantifiable outcome

• White-glove (100%) sell-through rate achieved on the Auckland Wine Club auction of approximately 900 lots
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o WaiwhetūminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebb's has collaborated with Christchurch Art Gallery on exhibitions and events. Sean Duxfield, Webb's Senior Specialist Art, served on the board of the Canterbury Society of the Arts/CoCA and has professional relationships with the gallery. Webb's also sources works from and references the gallery's collection.
• Auckland Art Gallery Toi o TāmakiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSean Duxfield honed his skills at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki as part of his career development in the arts sector. The gallery is a major New Zealand collection institution with overlapping collector networks.
• The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o WhakatūminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebb's collaborated with The Suter Art Gallery on the exhibition 'A Clear Day' featuring artist Karl Maughan. Director Toni MacKinnon co-authored an interview with Karl Maughan published on Webb's website, and the exhibition was presented in partnership with Webb's.
• Ōhinetahi (Sir Miles Warren Estate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSir Miles Warren's estate, Ōhinetahi, consigned his private art collection to Webb's March 2026 Works of Art auction, raising $500,000 for Ōhinetahi's ongoing artistic and cultural legacy. The relationship between Webb's and Ōhinetahi represents a significant consignment partnership.
• Te Papa TongarewaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWebb's references Te Papa as a major institutional collection holder. The auction house's specialist team draws on institutional provenance and historical context when cataloguing works, and the collector networks overlap significantly with Te Papa's collecting interests.
• Lou Sanson (Department of Conservation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLou Sanson, former Director of the Department of Conservation, contributed an essay to the Zoomorphic Lounge catalogue. He was with Bill Hammond on the 1989 Auckland Islands expedition that inspired Hammond's iconic bird series. His contribution adds scholarly authority and provenance depth to the catalogue.
• Gary McCormickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPoet, broadcaster, and writer Gary McCormick contributed an essay to the Zoomorphic Lounge catalogue, reflecting on his friendship with Bill Hammond and the Christchurch art community. His contribution adds cultural commentary and biographical depth to the auction catalogue.
• Royal Tokaji Wine Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Tokaji Wine Co. wines featured in the Auckland Wine Club auction catalogue. Founded in 1990 to revive Hungary's Tokaj region's grand cru vineyard tradition, the winery's historical significance (UNESCO World Heritage site) adds provenance and educational context to Webb's wine auction narrative.
• HermèsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHermès is the luxury goods manufacturer whose Birkin bags Webb's auctions in New Zealand. With Hermès having no retail presence in New Zealand, Webb's effectively acts as a key secondary market distributor for Hermès products in the country.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Auctions: Large US-based auction house with extensive categories including fine wine, jewelry, and decorative arts. Competes for online bidders and consignors in Webb's categories through its global digital platform.
• Bonhams: International auction house with strong wine, watches, and collectibles categories. Comparable in multi-department structure and accessible online bidding for NZ collectors and consignors.
• Phillips: Global auction house specializing in contemporary art, watches, and design. Comparable in category mix and online auction format, competing for NZ-based consignments and buyers.
• Sotheby's: Global fine art and luxury auction house with deep penetration in NZ-origin works and online bidding accessible to NZ collectors. Represents the broad-incumbent benchmark Webb's specialists measure against for premium consignments.
• Christie's: One of the world's largest auction houses, operating across art, wine, jewelry, and luxury goods with strong online platforms. Competes for NZ collectors' secondary-market purchases and for consignment of high-value NZ works.

Direct peers

• Dunbar Sloane: New Zealand auction house operating across fine art, decorative arts, jewelry, and collectibles with live and online sales. Directly competes with Webb's in the NZ auction market and shares similar specialty-department structure.
• Art+Object: Auckland-based auction house focused on contemporary and modern New Zealand art. Direct competitor in the NZ fine art auction category, particularly for single-owner and important art collections.
• Cordy's: New Zealand-based auction house specializing in art, antiques, and collectibles, with a similar auction-led model across multiple departments. Comparable in scale, geographic focus, and customer base to Webb's.

Regional players

• Mossgreen: Australian auction house operating across fine art, decorative arts, jewelry, and wine. Comparable in multi-department structure and Asia-Pacific collector focus, though primarily serving Australian rather than NZ markets.
• Lloyds Auction House: Large Australian-based auction house with broad category coverage and significant online auction presence. Comparable in online auction operations and trans-Tasman collector engagement, though operating at larger scale across Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/webbsauctions
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@webbsauctions
• Instagraminstagram.com/webbsauctions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/webbsauctions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Webb’s - Specialist Auctioneers & Valuers