Keys

Keys is an auction house in Aylsham, Norfolk which was founded in 1953 by Geoffrey Key. Originally a livestock auctioneer, Keys soon began regular furniture sales before adding art and antique sales to its calendar in the 1960s.

In 2019, the auction business split from its estate agency parent company after a management buy-out was led by fine art director Kevin Lines and new managing director David Broom.


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Pick of the week: Sleeper in Norfolk as Worcester 'Union Jack House’ cup is flagged up

09 August 2021

A solitary English blue and white porcelain coffee cup emerged from the relative anonymity of a one-line catalogue description and a £120-180 estimate to sell for £4100 at Keys in Aylsham on July 24.

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Inscribed Lowestoft jug can be linked to factory owner

31 May 2021

Lowestoft porcelain is particularly admired for its sense of place: the close ties the factory on Crown Street (then Bell Lane) enjoyed with its local community in Norfolk and Suffolk between 1757-1802.

Lowestoft porcelain jug

Unique Lowestoft porcelain jug stars in our pick of five auction highlights

14 May 2021

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes the only known inscribed piece of Lowestoft porcelain with a direct link to one of the owners of the factory.

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Iraqi artist's work emerges in Norfolk

22 February 2021

Keys’ forthcoming Modern Art and 20th Century Design Sale on February 24 includes a painting by Iraqi artist Faraj Abou (1921-84).

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Cottam on to a super collection

08 February 2021

Books from the collection of the late Derek Cottam made a significant contribution to a Norfolk sale.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £1600 including a Harry Fidler oil

21 December 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Harry Fidler oil.

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Cottam gems and much more

07 December 2020

Bid online to a record £3200 in a Norfolk auction was one of 375 copies of a 1924 Nonesuch Press work comprising the first chapter of Genesis…, as illustrated with a dozen woodcuts by Paul Nash.

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Our pick of 12 pieces of continental porcelain appearing at auction in December

30 November 2020

A special selection of European continental porcelain coming up in UK auctions and abroad.

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James Dodds prices buoyant in the saleroom

16 November 2020

James Dodds (b.1957) has been described as both ‘East Anglia’s most famous Contemporary artist after Dame Maggi Hambling’ and as ‘boatbuilding’s artist laureate’.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £2100 including a Harry Clarke stained-glass window design

31 August 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Harry Clarke.

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Brangwyn pushes the boat out

17 August 2020

A group of works on paper generated decent action at Keys’ (20% buyer’s premium) online-only sale of 20th Century design and modern art this summer.

Admiral Lord Nelson laying in state

Glass image of Nelson laying in state features in our pick of five auction highlights this week

07 August 2020

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a reverse engraving on glass of Admiral Lord Nelson lying in state at Greenwich Hospital. It sold for 22-times estimate in Norfolk.

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Last and lawless Just William makes appearance at Keys

20 July 2020

Published in 1970, 'William the Lawless' marked the last appearance in full book form of Richmal Crompton’s much-loved schoolboy hero – almost 50 years on from the publication of the first, 'Just William' of 1922.

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All Action Man bidding at Norfolk sale

20 July 2020

Underlining the nostalgic appeal of the 1970s-80s toys that today’s collectors once played with as children, this group of Action Man uniforms estimated at £40-60 sold for £1300 at the Keys (20% buyer’s premium) Toys auction on July 7.

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Suffolk artist shines in Norfolk auction

08 June 2020

Three works by Ipswich painter perform well in rescheduled East Anglian-themed auction

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Victorian butter dish and bagpipes from the Somme are among four lots to watch at auction this week

11 May 2020

With estimates from £40-5000 here are four previews of upcoming items this week.

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Bronze group purchaser could be rewarded if research confirms Giambologna link

11 May 2020

At Keys (20% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham a lot catalogued as ‘a patinated bronze group of a lion attacking a horse’ drew – and to an extent commanded – much attention.

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Auction calendar begins revival via the virtual rostrum

27 April 2020

After a month’s hiatus, a number of top-tier regional auction houses are returning to the rostrum to conduct ‘live online’ sales.

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Affordable art: Three works sold for under £800 including a Brangwyn and Urushibara woodcut

20 April 2020

Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Brangwyn and Urushibara woodcut

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Rare early Biggles paperback flies again at Norfolk sale

09 March 2020

An unexpected star turn of a recent Norfolk sale was a job lot of works from the library of the late Ron Fiske of Morningthorpe Manor, an East Anglian collector whose books a Norfolk auction house first started dispersing a few years years ago.

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