Northeast Auctions by Ronald Bourgeault

I have been buying American antiques at Northeast Auctions for 25 years. There are so many things that I like about it, as a business, that I must corall my thoughts. But as I reflect, I realize that it pretty much all comes down to Ronnie Bourgeault, who is an extremely knowledgeable, energetic, verbose, serious, sometimes grumpy, generous, philanthropic and good hearted man. He is highly respected in the field for being one of/​the most antiques-​knowledgeable auctioneers, and is well known by and connected to all the major collectors, dealers and museums who have encountered him in the ~ 45 years he has been in the antiques business. Because of his national reputation, he is chosen to sell major collections from CA to NY., so as a buyer, I don’t have to travel far to see and examine some of the best material out there.
Bourgeault’s headquarters is a landmark for ‘downtown’ Portsmouth, an elegant early 19^th c. 3 story brick Federal mansion that is a cornerstone for this uniquely well preserved historic shipping port. Throughout his many years in Portsmouth, he has consciously and quietly purchased and restored a number of early buildings with shaky futures. That means alot to me. He is also an active donor and board member for both local and regional museums and historic organizations of national importance.
Bourgeault and his loyal staff run a very smooth professional operation. His auctions are always well attended; the August one that kicks off N.H.Antiques Week is often where you will see the premier collections being sold. Americana is Bourgeault’s focus but his Asian sales are also highly regarded. Both printed and web catalogues are well organized, written, and photographed.
My one warning is that if you are new to the auction world, you might want to start by attending other auctions that cater more to newbies by being a bit more user-​friendly. In keeping with his ‘no nonsense’ approach, Bourgeault is probably the fastest auctioneer in New England (at least), often selling 100 lots per hour (where other auctioneers might sell 60 – 80 lots per hour.) That speed alone takes some getting used to; there’s little room for hesitation, or you may easily be left in the dust! The world of antiques and auctions is a fascinating one and bringing history into your life can be fun, educational and richly rewarding. If and when you decide to take on that goal, Northeast Auctions is a top notch business to work with.

Although I have been a rather infrequent buyer at Northeast Auctions, I admire and have ‘warm fuzzies’ for Ronnie Bourgeault and his auctions and staff. They are above board in every way, based on my experience. THey are also one of the few auction houses that I have frequented, that have sent me a beautiful catalog for each sale. Regardless of whether I buy or not from him, he is one of the few auctioneers who goes above and beyond for his customers.

Honest, straight forward, and great reputation with a helpful knowledgeable great staff and top quality items across most periods. I know they would be my number one stop if I wanted to sell or buy early Americana. I feel like I am shooting myself in the foot sometimes, but if you have or want great Americana… this is the place! Ron is frequently on the Antiques Roadshow as an expert and appraiser.