Fine Art Bourse

Founder Tim Goodman had been a fine art auctioneer for over forty years. He had owned and operated some of the leading auction brands in the southern hemisphere, including Sotheby’s Australia (1983), Leonard Joel (1919), Theodore Bruce (1878) and Bonhams & Goodman.

Like so many new and innovative businesses, Fine Art Bourse (F.A.B.) began as an idea conceived out of frustration with the status quo. Having sold all his auction businesses by 2012 Goodman was asked to advise a client regarding the sale of a substantial collection. Tim schlepped the project around the auction houses inviting proposals from them.

The client was horrified at the fees of between 35 – 50% (including buyer’s premium and GST) charged by the traditional firms. The client, a successful & wealthy entrepreneur, asked Goodman to look at online options.

The answer was surprising. There were no online options of any substance to be found locally or internationally.

After months of research Goodman was convinced that the traditional auction industry was ripe for disruption and the F.A.B. online auction concept was born.