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Lawsons

Invaluable Seller since 2003

James R. Lawson Senior established himself as the leading auctioneer in Sydney during the 1870s when Sydney was a bustling market town, thronging with new immigrants full of pioneering opportunities in a new world city. Communications between Sydney and Melbourne were strengthened with the installation of the telephone link in 1884. In those days everything from groceries such as tea and salt, through to sailing ships were sold by public auction often on the wharfs. James R. Lawson was well known in his day as the leading auctioneer in Sydney and he also had a reputation as a great raconteur and the best dressed auctioneer in town.

Into the c20th century the family-owned company of Lawsons sold many of the finest collections at Sydney's gracious homes including on site auctions at Toft Monks and Notable collections sold include the Burdekin House sale in 1922, the Norman Sheuruck collection in 1963, the Sim Rubensohn collection at Kelvin Lodge in 1973 and the Lloyd Jones collection at Rosemont Woollahra in 1981.

RECENT YEARS In September 2001, the Menzies Group of Companies acquired the historic Sydney auction house. The company with over 140 years of unbroken auction history handling a wide range of property from domestic and general chattels through to the upper end of the market for Australian and International Art, Antique Furniture, Fine Wine, Jewellery, Decorative Arts and prestigious Home Contents Auctions and Single Vendor Collections.

Into the 21st century Lawsons goes from strength to strength with traditional sales handling 'The Collection of Amanda Finley and Sir Peter and Lady Finley' in Point Piper in April 2003, 'The Estate of the late Dr. Geoffrey Davis' at the Abbey, Annandale in 2009, 'The Estate of the late, the Honourable Roderick Pitt Meagher, A.O. Q.C' in Darling Point in 2011 and The Vizard Foundation Collection of Important Australian Silver and Gold in April 2012 achieving record prices for a colonial gold trophy cup and early goldfields jewellery and the Fairfax collection of Important Tribal art and Books in Nov 2019.

As leaders in the development and adaptation of new technology and creative use of the online sales platform, Lawsons continues to be entrusted to handle a large volume of estates and many single vendor collections in both live and timed formats, notably in recent years for Baz Luhrmann, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Roxy Jacenko, Kamahl, Alan Jones to name but a few.

The auction landscape is ever changing however With over 140 Years under our Belt, the pioneering spirit remains the same in our approach to both substance and style.

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8-16 Moore Street LEICHHARDT

Sydney, Australia

+ 53 more locations

Upcoming Auctions from Lawsons (17)

accepting bids

Australian Indigenous Art

June 23, 2025 8:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 2d 20h

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accepting bids

Camargue

June 24, 2025 7:00 PM AEST

Mosman, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 3d 19h

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accepting bids

Bowral Furniture & Restoration Workshop

June 25, 2025 6:00 PM AEST

Bowral, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 4d 18h

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accepting bids

An Offering Of NSW Heritage Numeric Only Number Plates

June 25, 2025 6:30 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (Special Instruction), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 4d 19h

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accepting bids

Weekly Art

June 25, 2025 7:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 4d 19h

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accepting bids

NSW Limited Edition Euro Numeral Number Plate 'N2'

June 25, 2025 7:30 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (Special Instruction), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 4d 20h

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accepting bids

WOMEN IN ART THEN & NOW

June 25, 2025 8:00 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (to Lawsons), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 4d 20h

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accepting bids

Furniture & Interiors

June 26, 2025 10:00 AM AEST

Sydney, Australia


accepting bids

Fine Decorative Arts

June 26, 2025 1:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 5d 13h

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accepting bids

Fine Jewellery & Timepieces

June 26, 2025 3:30 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 5d 16h

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accepting bids

A Vaucluse Cellar fine wine & spirits featuring Bordeaux

June 26, 2025 4:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 5d 16h

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accepting bids

Luxury Designer Brands Collection of a Sustainable Fashion Stylist Pt II

June 26, 2025 7:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 5d 19h

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accepting bids

Lawsons Winter Kilim Sale Free Shipping Australia Wide

June 29, 2025 6:00 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (to Client), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 1w 1d

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accepting bids

Classic Interiors

June 29, 2025 7:00 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (to Lawsons), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 1w 1d

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accepting bids

Mosman Home Contents Auction

June 30, 2025 7:00 PM AEST

Mosman, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 1w 2d

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accepting bids

ART+DESIGN

June 30, 2025 8:00 PM AEST

Sydney, Australia

Timed bidding starts in 1w 2d

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accepting bids

Darling Point Home Contents Auction

July 3, 2025 4:00 PM AEST

Drop Shipping (to Lawsons), Australia

Timed bidding starts in 1w 5d

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Lawsons Buyer Reviews

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Artists at Auction from Lawsons

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Gloria Petyarre4 available items
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Bridget Riley1 available item
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Melinda Harper1 available item
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Kathleen Petyarre2 available items
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Minnie Pwerle2 available items

Notable Past Lots Sold at Auction

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About Lawsons

Biography

James R. Lawson Senior established himself as the leading auctioneer in Sydney during the 1870s when Sydney was a bustling market town, thronging with new immigrants full of pioneering opportunities in a new world city. Communications between Sydney and Melbourne were strengthened with the installation of the telephone link in 1884. In those days everything from groceries such as tea and salt, through to sailing ships were sold by public auction often on the wharfs. James R. Lawson was well known in his day as the leading auctioneer in Sydney and he also had a reputation as a great raconteur and the best dressed auctioneer in town.

Into the c20th century the family-owned company of Lawsons sold many of the finest collections at Sydney's gracious homes including on site auctions at Toft Monks and Notable collections sold include the Burdekin House sale in 1922, the Norman Sheuruck collection in 1963, the Sim Rubensohn collection at Kelvin Lodge in 1973 and the Lloyd Jones collection at Rosemont Woollahra in 1981.

RECENT YEARS In September 2001, the Menzies Group of Companies acquired the historic Sydney auction house. The company with over 140 years of unbroken auction history handling a wide range of property from domestic and general chattels through to the upper end of the market for Australian and International Art, Antique Furniture, Fine Wine, Jewellery, Decorative Arts and prestigious Home Contents Auctions and Single Vendor Collections.

Into the 21st century Lawsons goes from strength to strength with traditional sales handling 'The Collection of Amanda Finley and Sir Peter and Lady Finley' in Point Piper in April 2003, 'The Estate of the late Dr. Geoffrey Davis' at the Abbey, Annandale in 2009, 'The Estate of the late, the Honourable Roderick Pitt Meagher, A.O. Q.C' in Darling Point in 2011 and The Vizard Foundation Collection of Important Australian Silver and Gold in April 2012 achieving record prices for a colonial gold trophy cup and early goldfields jewellery and the Fairfax collection of Important Tribal art and Books in Nov 2019.

As leaders in the development and adaptation of new technology and creative use of the online sales platform, Lawsons continues to be entrusted to handle a large volume of estates and many single vendor collections in both live and timed formats, notably in recent years for Baz Luhrmann, Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Roxy Jacenko, Kamahl, Alan Jones to name but a few.

The auction landscape is ever changing however With over 140 Years under our Belt, the pioneering spirit remains the same in our approach to both substance and style.

Past Auctions from Lawsons

06/19/25

Bilpin Classic Vehicle Auction

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Fine Art

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Jewellery & Watches

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Decorative Arts & Objects

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Furniture & Interiors

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Furniture and Interiors Part II inc. Garden

Sydney, Australia
06/19/25

Books, Bric a Brac & Miscellany

Sydney, Australia
06/18/25

Weekly Art

Sydney, Australia
06/17/25

Bilpin Home Contents Auction

Sydney, Australia
06/16/25

Collector's Edit: Fine Art, Editions & Sculpture

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Jewellery, Watches & Designer Bags

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Decorative Arts & Objects Including 20th Century Design featuring a Single Vendor Collection of Barsony

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Furniture & Interiors

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Furniture and Interiors Part II inc. Garden

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Books, Bric a Brac & Miscellany

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Luxury Designer Brands - Collection of a Sustainable Fashion Stylist

Sydney, Australia
06/12/25

Luxury Designer Fabrics & Soft Furnishings

Sydney, Australia
06/11/25

An Offering Of NSW Heritage Numeric Only Number Plates

Drop Shipping (Special Instruction), Australia
06/11/25

Weekly Art

Sydney, Australia
06/10/25

Rose Bay Home Contents Auction

Rose Bay, Australia