Elstob Auctioneers
Ripon, North Yorkshire · Expertise you can trust
Elstob Auctioneers is recognised as one of the leading auction houses in the North of England, with an established reputation for the sale of high-quality antiques, fine art and jewellery.
Regular sales are held throughout the year, featuring silver, jewellery, paintings, sculpture, Asian art and antiques, alongside valuations for sale, probate, insurance and family division.
Read about our Ripon saleroom and meet our specialists below.
Expertise you can trust, service you can rely on.
Based in spacious, modern premises on the outskirts of Ripon, North Yorkshire, we provide a full range of auction and valuation services to both national and international clients, while serving as a regional focus for Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria.
The business was founded by David Elstob, who brings a wealth of experience in the auction sector. He is supported by a dedicated team of specialist valuers and consultants, each offering unrivalled expertise in their respective fields.
At the heart of Elstob Auctioneers is a commitment to personal service. Every client is treated with courtesy, confidentiality and care, with the aim of delivering the best possible experience and results.
Our saleroom
Our auction house is located on Ripon Business Park, just off the B6265 at the south-east edge of the city. The premises include a spacious modern saleroom, reception and offices, and secure storage facilities − all under one roof. Free customer parking is available on-site, making it easy to attend viewings, valuation days and auctions.
Ripon is well connected by road and lies between the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. The city is accessible via the A1(M) motorway (Junction 48 northbound, Junction 49 southbound). Nearby rail stations include Thirsk (11 miles), Harrogate (12 miles) and Northallerton (16 miles).
Meet the team
David Elstob MA ASFAV
Director
David has spent his career in the auction world, leading the saleroom team at Addisons of Barnard Castle and serving as Director at Thomas Watson Auctioneers in Darlington before founding Elstob Auctioneers. He holds an MA in Antiques from the University of Central Lancashire and is a regular face on antiques television programmes.
Although his knowledge spans many fields, David has a particular passion for 20th-century design and is especially recognised for his expertise in the work of Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson, the renowned Yorkshire craftsman.
Julia Matyear ASFAV
Cataloguer and Valuer
After completing a BA in Fine Art at Northumbria University, where she specialised in sculpture and printmaking, Julia began her career as a saleroom assistant at Tennants of Leyburn. She later worked with the vintage and antique jewellery specialists Ogden’s of Harrogate before joining the valuation team at Vintage Cash Cow in Leeds.
Henrietta Graham
Valuer and agent
Henrietta has built her distinguished career with some of the most respected names in the auction world, including fifteen years as Bonhams’ representative and general valuer in the North East and twelve years with Sotheby’s. Her specialism lies in 18th, 19th and 20th-century paintings, and she has played a key role in auctions including the Nun Monkton House Sale, the Ripley Castle Collection and the Meade Irish Silver Collection.
David Douglas
Militaria, Nauticalia and Sporting Antiques Specialist
With over fifty years of experience, David has developed an exceptional network of contacts and a reputation for locating rare and unusual objects. Among his discoveries is a unique troopers’ pattern Tarleton helmet of the Royal Horse Artillery, dating from the Peninsula War and Waterloo, now housed in the National Army Museum.
Rohan McCulloch
Paintings and Sculpture Specialist
With more than fifteen years’ experience at Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Lyon & Turnbull, Rohan’s expertise spans British and European art, Old Masters and portraiture across all eras. He is well known for uncovering “sleepers” — undervalued works that have been overlooked or misattributed — including paintings by Rubens and Edvard Munch.
Nick Bassett
Watch Specialist
With over thirty years’ experience in the watch industry, including as General Manager of Northern Goldsmiths’ flagship Blackett Street store in Newcastle, Nick holds the Retail Jewellers Diploma from the National Association of Jewellers and has detailed working knowledge of leading brands including Rolex, Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Cartier and Longines.