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.
When Lyon & Turnbull returned to the market in 1999, it needed a home that would represent both its historic roots and its modern aspirations. The building chosen for its new headquarters was an inspired choice: an important Greek Revival church dating from 1828, a fine example of the work of Archibald Elliot (1760-1823), one of Scotland's leading architects of the early 19th century.
The award-winning conversion transformed a place of worship into a place of presentation. Its soaring ceilings, arched windows, and open interior lent themselves naturally to display, creating a light-filled environment ideal for showcasing works of art and design. The renovation balanced sensitivity to the original architecture with the practical needs of a 21st-century auction house. Behind the scenes, the building was equipped with climate control, specialist lighting, and digital systems for global broadcasting, a far cry from the handwritten ledgers of earlier decades.
The Broughton Place saleroom quickly became a symbol of the firm’s renewal. It represented the fusion of tradition and innovation that defines Lyon & Turnbull’s approach: a respect for history combined with a willingness to embrace change. It was here that the company staged landmark sales in Scottish art, fine furniture, design, and jewellery, reaffirming its position at the centre of the UK’s regional and national art markets.
The building also functions as a public space, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and events that extend beyond the commercial side of auctioneering. For collectors and visitors alike, the saleroom provides a setting where art can be viewed in context, not just as objects of value, but as expressions of creativity and culture.
Over two decades later, Broughton Place remains the beating heart of Lyon & Turnbull. Its mix of heritage architecture and modern technology reflects the company’s enduring identity: rooted in Scotland, engaged with the wider world, and committed to connecting people, art, and ideas.
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.
