Hampel Fine Art Auctions

Hampel Fine Art Auctions GmbH & Co. KG is a Munich-based art auction house and one of Europe's leading auctioneers. Founded in 1989 by Holger Hampel (1945–2025), who had previously worked as an art dealer, the house began as Hampel Kunstauktionen in the Prinzregentenstrasse in Munich-Bogenhausen. In 1999 it moved to the Villa Hampel at Schellingstrasse 44 in Munich's Maxvorstadt, a building erected in 1912 that had formerly served as the house of the Catholic student fraternity KDStV Aenania München. The company also maintains representative offices in France and Italy. The auction house is publicly appointed and sworn in Munich and handles consignments across more than 20 departments. Its core specialisms are Old Master paintings and 19th-century paintings, alongside Classical Modern, Impressionist and contemporary art. It also auctions furniture from the classic epochs (Baroque, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire), sculpture, antiquities, works of art, silver and silver-plated objects, arms and hunting objects, jewellery and accessories, books, drawings and engravings, clocks, and Russian, African and Asian art. Under the "Hampel Living" label it offers decorative objects and interior pieces. Hampel has earned international attention through several high-profile single-owner sales. In September 2005 it auctioned the Hans-Georg Karg collection, including paintings by Max Liebermann; in December 2007 it sold a significant Munich art collection with works by Jan Brueghel the Younger, Jan Brueghel the Elder, David Teniers the Younger and Gillis van Coninxloo, among others. In 2008 it drew international coverage with the sale of paintings by the Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada, and in 2017 with the sale of the Carl Laszlo collection. The house has also broadened its offering beyond classical art with estate auctions for the Munich restaurateur Gerd Käfer and the actress Ruth Maria Kubitschek, and with curiosities such as dinosaur fossils, meteorites, NASA photographs and a dedicated Hollywood special auction. In 2012 the business was converted into a GmbH & Co. KG. Alongside founder Holger Hampel, the long-serving art auctioneer Vitus Graupner became a managing director and co-owner. The company is registered with the Munich Local Court under HRA 98405, with Hampel Verwaltungs GmbH (HRB 196516) as the personally liable partner. Holger Hampel, MBA, is a publicly certified and sworn auctioneer appointed by the Government of Upper Bavaria; Vitus Graupner is an art auctioneer. The founder Holger Hampel died in May 2025. The house continues to hold regular auctions, with catalogues, previews and live online bidding available through its website.

Hampel Fine Art Auctions was founded in 1989 by Holger Hampel (1945–2025), who had previously worked as an art dealer. The house opened as Hampel Kunstauktionen in the Prinzregentenstrasse in Munich-Bogenhausen. In 1999 it relocated to the Villa Hampel at Schellingstrasse 44 in Munich's Maxvorstadt district; the building was erected in 1912 and had formerly been the house of the Catholic student fraternity KDStV Aenania München. The company also maintains representative offices in France and Italy. The auction house built a reputation for high-value single-owner sales. In September 2005 it auctioned the collection of Hans-Georg Karg, the former owner of the Hertie department store chain, including paintings by Max Liebermann. In December 2007 it sold a significant Munich art collection featuring works by Jan Brueghel the Younger, Jan Brueghel the Elder, David Teniers the Younger and Gillis van Coninxloo, among others. In 2008 the house gained international attention through the sale of paintings by the Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada, and in 2017 through the sale of the Carl Laszlo collection. In 2012 the business was converted into a GmbH & Co. KG. Alongside founder Holger Hampel, the long-serving art auctioneer Vitus Graupner became a managing director and co-owner. The company is registered with the Munich Local Court under HRA 98405, with Hampel Verwaltungs GmbH (HRB 196516) as the personally liable partner. Holger Hampel, MBA, is a publicly certified and sworn auctioneer appointed by the Government of Upper Bavaria; Vitus Graupner is an art auctioneer. The business holds a licence under § 34b GewO (auctioneering licence) issued to Hampel Verwaltungs GmbH. Beyond classical art, Hampel expanded its offering with estate auctions for the Munich restaurateur Gerd Käfer and the actress Ruth Maria Kubitschek, and with the sale of curiosities such as dinosaur fossils, meteorites, NASA photographs and a dedicated Hollywood special auction. These sales, together with the Kenzo Takada and Hans-Georg Karg auctions, earned the house international renown. The founder Holger Hampel died in May 2025. The house continues to operate from Villa Hampel, holding regular auctions with catalogues, previews and live online bidding available through its website.

• 2025

  Founder Holger Hampel dies in May.

• 2017

  Auction of the Carl Laszlo collection.

• 2012

  Conversion of the business into a GmbH & Co. KG; Vitus Graupner becomes managing director and co-owner alongside founder Holger Hampel.

• 2008

  International attention through the sale of paintings by Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada.

• 2007

  Auction of a significant Munich art collection with works by Jan Brueghel the Younger, Jan Brueghel the Elder, David Teniers the Younger and Gillis van Coninxloo.

• 2005

  Successful auction of the Hans-Georg Karg collection, including paintings by Max Liebermann.

• 1999

  The auction house moves to the Villa Hampel at Schellingstrasse 44 in Munich's Maxvorstadt.

• 1989

  Holger Hampel founds Hampel Kunstauktionen in the Prinzregentenstrasse in Munich-Bogenhausen.

One of Europe's leading auction houses, publicly appointed and sworn in Munich, offering high-quality art and antiques across more than 20 departments with a focus on Old Masters, 19th-century and Classical Modern art.

• Old Master Paintings

  A core department offering paintings by Old Masters.

• 19th & 20th Century Paintings

  Department specialising in 19th and 20th century paintings.

• Impressionists & Modern Art

  Department covering Impressionist and Modern art, including Classical Modern works.

• Furniture & Interior

  Furniture from classic epochs such as Baroque, Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI and Empire.

• Sculpture & Antiquities

  Sculpture and antiquities department.

• Works of Art

  Works of art and arts and crafts.

• Silver & silver plated objects

  Silver and silver-plated objects department.

• Arms and hunting objects

  Department for arms and hunting objects.

• Jewellery & Accessories

  Jewellery and accessories department.

• Books, Drawings & Engravings

  Department for books, drawings and engravings.

• Clocks

  Clocks department.

• Hampel Living

  Decorative arts and interior objects label.

1. 1Hampel Fine Art Auctions – official websitehampel-auctions.com
2. 2Terms and conditions of auctionhampel-auctions.com
3. 3Upcoming auctions appointment bookhampel-auctions.com
4. 4Imprinthampel-auctions.com
5. 5Wikidata – Hampel Auktionenwikidata.org
6. 6Wikipedia (German) – Hampel Fine Art Auctionsde.wikipedia.org