Witherell Auction House Expands to the Wine Country

Former Antiques Roadshow Appraiser and homegrown auctioneer returns to Sonoma County with a satellite auction company, an expansion of the Sacramento-based Witherell Auction House. Brian and Donna Witherell launched a Wine Country Consignment Center for buyers and sellers from the Golden Gate to the Oregon border and the Pacific Coast down to the Sacramento Valley. The expansion is a return to the company’s roots. Witherell was founded in Healdsburg 55 years ago and relocated to Sacramento in 1996.

“It is wonderful to be back in Sonoma County with this “mini auction company” where we will host sales of moderately priced goods in the $100-$1,500 range and facilitate larger consignments with our specialists at the Sacramento headquarters,” says Brian Witherell. “The company will also offer online estate auctions of worthwhile collections. This is a discrete alternative to the traditional estate sale and meets most HOA regulations.”

“We are excited to engage the community and hope to hold appraisal events throughout the region to benefit local museums and historical societies,” says Donna (Bennett) Witherell, a Sonoma County native and local W real estate agent. She and her daughter Jenna recently purchased the Tynan Building, near the town green in Windsor, where the new Witherell satellite office is located.

Brian Witherell remembers a prominent estate his father handled in Sonoma County when he was learning the business in the 1980s. The Jean Warfield Estate, on the Healdsburg Golf Course, had rare rugs, stunning artwork by Grace Hudson and the desk of pre-gold rush explorer Captain Fitch, for which Fitch Mountain is named.

“I’ll never forget legendary antique dealers Greg and Petra Martin lounging on the hood of their exotic car on that beautiful spring day as they casually kept raising the bid until it reached a staggering $30,000,” said Witherell. “The Captain Fitch desk eventually sold to a local attorney who donated it to the Healdsburg Museum where it is still on display.”

Brian and his father, Brad Witherell, were appraisers on the PBS series “Antiques Roadshow” for 23 years. They founded Witherell, specializing in fine art, rare treasures and antique firearms. Witherell’s made headlines around the world and shattered auction records by hosting The Estate of Al Capone, an epic live auction in Sacramento. For more information visit witherell.com.

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