United Kingdom
Watford
1 Sydney Road
Watford WD18 7XX
United Kingdom
Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00
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About us
Specialist piano auctioneers, since 2003.
Over twenty years of trading, a 98% private vendor sale success rate, and the worldʼs largest specialist piano auction. Buyers and vendors from Australia, China, Japan, the USA, Europe and the UK.
One of the world’s leading specialist piano auction houses.
Piano Auctions Ltd brings together over 35 years of industry experience and more than 20 years of dedicated piano auction trading. Based in Bedford, the company has built an international reputation for specialist piano auctions, piano valuations and professional piano sales, and is recognised as one of the world’s largest specialist auctioneers of pianos.
A 98% private vendor sale success rate has made us a trusted choice for private sellers, collectors, musicians, piano dealers, solicitors and institutions. Our client base reaches across the UK, Europe, the USA, Australia, China and Japan, and we are members of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers (SOFAA) and the Music Industries Association (MIA).
Every sale offers a regularly changing collection of over 120 pianos, from uprights and grands to antique, restored and rare instruments. We specialise in piano auctions, consignments, valuations, international sales and specialist brokerage, combining decades of piano knowledge with modern online auction technology and a personal, bespoke approach to every client.
Our story.
Twenty years, condensed.
2003
The beginning.
2003
The beginning.
Piano Auctions Ltd was established when Sean McIlroy and Richard Reason left Bonhams (formerly Phillips) to start their own venture. The inaugural auction took place at Conway Hall, Holborn, in September 2003.
2010
Shanghai Music Fair.
Participation in Asiaʼs largest annual trade fair for musical instruments, opening up the firmʼs reach into the East.
2016
Edinburgh Piano Company.
The February 2016 auction generated around £400,000 in sales, with only three pianos unsold.
2018
The Colt Collection.
A landmark sale of 114 historic keyboard instruments. An 1821 Tomkison grand sold for £62,000; a 1738 Mahoon double-manual harpsichord fetched £69,000. Total proceeds: £678,000.
2019
The last auction at Conway Hall.
The final auction at Conway Hall in central London, ending a 16-year run at the venue.
2020
The global pandemic.
A full transition to online auctions via easyliveauction.com, opening up the rostrum to a worldwide audience.
2022
A change of director.
Richard Reason retired from his role. He was succeeded by George McIlroy, who took over as director.
2023
Freddie Mercuryʼs Yamaha G2.
Sean McIlroy played a significant advisory role to Sothebyʼs on the sale of Freddie Mercuryʼs Yamaha G2 piano. The instrument fetched £1.74 million.
2024
A European venue.
Our first auction in the Netherlands, opening a permanent EU viewing venue in Bodegraven.
The people behind the rostrum.
A small specialist team with over a century in the piano trade between them.
Two venues, one sale.
Our UK sales run from Watford. The EU viewing venue is in Bodegraven, twenty minutes from Schiphol.
Come and see for yourself.
Every sale is preceded by four days of open viewings at Watford. Bring your teacher, your technician, your family — we will always find you a specialist to talk to.