Dealers and Auctioneers statistics

There was a total of 129 separate dealers and auctioneers associated with Pitt-Rivers' two collections. Ten of these were auctioneers, the remainder were all dealers. Some of the dealers were large fashionable dealers or companies based in the west end of London, some were based abroad and some in the provinces. The vast majority were based in the UK. Dealers and auctioneers formed 14.1 per cent of the total known individuals and institutions associated with the two collections.

Founding Collection only

There was a total of eight dealers and auctioneers known to have been associated with the founding collection only. In addition there were others which were associated with both the founding collection and the second collection (see below). Of the eight known to be only associated with the founding collection, 4 were known dealers, one was a possible dealer and three were auction houses. Dealers and auctioneers represented only 2.9 per cent of all the individuals and institutions known to have been associated with the founding collection only.

Founding Collection and Second Collection

There were a total of twelve dealers and auctioneers known to have been associated with the founding and second collections. Eleven of these were dealers and one was an auctioneer. Dealers and auctioneers represented 30 per cent of all the individuals and institutions known to have been associated with both collections; this predominance is perhaps not surprising given the large number of objects received from dealers and sales in general across both collections.

Second Collection only

There were a total of 109 dealers and auctioneers known to have been associated with the second collection only. A total of 98 dealers were recorded and five possible dealers giving a total of 103 dealers. In addition six auction houses were recorded.  Because the documentation of this collection is so much better than for the founding collection this large number does not necessarily record his increasing dependence on dealers and auction houses but merely a better record being kept of the source. Dealers and auctioneers represented 18.2 per cent of all the individuals and institutions known to have been associated with the second collection only.

AP, June 2010.