26 November 2024
Lyon & Turnbull
In 1999, a name long associated with Scottish art and auctioneering was reborn. Lyon & Turnbull, which had been part of Edinburgh’s commercial and cultural life since 1826, entered a new era when a group of investors and former Phillips auctioneers, led by the late Sir Angus Grossart, revived the company.
The aim was not nostalgia, but renewal: to build on nearly two centuries of history while redefining what an independent British auction house could be in the 21st century.
The new team saw in Lyon & Turnbull not only a respected name but a platform for growth. They recognised the potential to create a modern auction house that reflected Scotland’s distinct cultural identity while competing confidently on the national and international stage. From the outset, they set about restoring the firm’s reputation for expertise, presentation, and integrity, qualities that had earned it the trust of generations of collectors.
One of the first steps was to rebuild the specialist departments, focusing on areas that reflected both heritage and opportunity: fine art, Scottish paintings, decorative arts, design, jewellery, and books. Many of the early recruits combined scholarly backgrounds with commercial experience, bringing a renewed sense of energy and intellectual depth to the business. The emphasis was clear: Lyon & Turnbull would operate as a place where art was understood, researched, and presented with care.
The decision to locate the new headquarters in a striking neoclassical church at Broughton Place, Edinburgh, reinforced this identity, a setting that symbolised continuity and transformation. It provided a dramatic stage for a modern auction programme and for exhibitions that invited public engagement with art and design.
By 2001, the revived Lyon & Turnbull had held a series of successful sales that demonstrated the potential of this new approach. The firm’s calendar was expanding, attracting consignments from across the UK and beyond, and reconnecting with collectors who valued the balance between professionalism and personal service.
The revival marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that blended history with ambition. What began as an Edinburgh institution had become a UK-wide presence, positioning Lyon & Turnbull as a confident, independent voice in a changing auction landscape.
[1999 - 2026]
