I live here in Los Angeles and sent in photos of a very amazing painting I acquired. It was signed and appeared to be mid century or earlier. John Moran auctioneers (Bob Cullen) got back to me saying they too could not identify the artist but they were very interested in putting the painting in an upcoming auction. I was totally interested in consigning. It wasn't my first rodeo as I sell vintage and sold through Swann in NYC. Swann has handled individual prints for me but not a painting. So I was hoping to find a local auction house for the painting to avoid shipping it. Swann charges 15% commission. I was waiting to hear back from Moran as I was planning to drop the painting off. That is until I heard their fee would be 35% plus a $50 fee for photography. To me that is highway robbery. I reached out to Swann as, at that rate, I'd rather ship it to them. read more

John Moran Auctioneers - Auction Houses Near Me - Monrovia, California

Sellers beware...If I hired this auction house to sell my valuables I would be furious I bid on 2 paintings that were at auction that had no other bids and they completely ignored my attempts to reach out and purchase the painting for which I was the only bidder. Too bad because I really wanted those paintings read more

Where do I start. The team here helped me sell part of my art collection and I was absolutely thrilled with the results. Katie in Fine Arts was excellent communicator and she and Maranda made the process stress free. You can tell that the team has been in the industry for many years and they bring high end clients. There are not a lot of Auction Houses in Southern California up to this standard. I have also been a buyer at their sales as well and the items were as described and easy to retrieve. read more

I registered to bid over 2 weeks from the auction start date that I was interested in. I emailed the auction house 3 times to ask them to activate my account and I never received a reply. Finally the day before the auction I received an email asking for information about the lot # that I was interested in even though I had included that information in each email. And here we are, 30mins prior to the start of the auction, and I still haven't been approved to bid. I am beyond furious. This auction house is sloppy with poor attention to detail. They don't reply to email in a timely manner. They don't carefully read their emails. They don't care if you are registered to bid or not. If you are a seller then you should beware that this auction house is not going to do their best to ensure that you get the best price for your items. If you are a bidder, then don't get your hopes up that you will be able to bid on the item you wish for because John Moran just doesn't care. read more

Jeff, Miranda (owners), and all their professional staff become like family; they care about their clients in a way that is of a higher importance than who bids most often or brings in art and furniture for future auctions. They are equally competitive with many of other higher end auction houses, i.e., Bonham's, Rago Arts, etc., yet they will equally support you in the process of landing your favorite artistic pieces. Jenny is the art director and always take the time to hear the back story on every piece that interests you. If you're thinking of auctioning some of your prized pieces or obtaining more yourself, I highly recommend John Morans auctioneers. read more

See all

We came by a painting without really knowing how to appraise or sell it. Our contact at John Moran's walked us through the whole process. They were aware of the artist and you could tell they were very passionate about the painter and their work. They were incredibly knowledgeable about how to market and preserve the art. I really appreciated their prompt responses to all my questions. Their excitement about my art really put me at ease. They went above and beyond researching, marketing, and promoting my piece. I would recommend John Moran Auctioneers for the quality and thoroughness of their process. read more

I love this auction house, very good experiece with items I sent to auction The staff is so nice and they take their time going over everything so there are no sursprizes. I would recomend them when you don't want to sell your item yourself and want a place you can trust. read more

Used to be quite good, but in the past few months have had 2 negative experiences. I referred them to someone who had jewelry to auction. The jewelry was accepted by the JM expert and sold. JM allowed the buyer to take the item off premises and later return it. The seller noticed the item now had several marks indicating that the stone had been taken out. When complaining to JM, their response was pretty much that they can change their auction rules for whomever they like. This is minor but an indication of how they treat people. I usually pick up items myself. The last time, I asked an employee to pick up items. He was treated very rudely by everyone who was there. read more

I consigned with them. Item got sold, but it took more than 2 month and some 11 emails until I received the money. They only excused themselves with their bad organization (not forwarding emails of ex-employees). Rates are high - need to take a close look at fees before consigning. read more

Jeff Moran at John Moran Auctioneers was an excellent choice for what I needed. I inherited some artwork that my great-grandfather Charles Charlton painted. He was associated with Norman Rockwell but his art work was unknown. Jeff was able to put together the Rockwell study painting I received and photos of my great-grandfather with Rockwell, Jeff tracked down the original Saturday Evening Post that the Rockwell was in and bought it for the sale; selling my great-grandfather's art and connecting the two artists. Jeff went out of his way to help me create a family legacy with my great-grandfather's art. The the sale of the 2 paintings submitted far exceeded his estimate. Jeff also gave me wonderful printed copies of the art for a keepsake. I highly recommend the John Moran Auctioneers. Thank you for everything. read more

I have to admit, I'm a pretty disappointed in my experience buying artwork at John Moran. It's a pandemic, and the online auctions seemed like a great opportunity for them to broaden their audience of buyers in a difficult situation. I will say that the auction process itself went smoothly-- that is not always the case with remote bidding. But the online site where they listed their auction stated that shipping and packaging would be handled for an additional fee. That is perfectly acceptable and typical for the business. These were terms specific to their one auction, not general terms of use or general terms for the gallery. After I had bid on the work and was bound to the purchase (with a credit card on file) they stated that they would not pack or ship the work. Buyers were responsible for pickup and would face storage fees within 5 days. Why would an auction house or gallery not be willing to help buyers obtain their purchases?? With no notice in a pandemic this seemed inconsiderate and inflexible. More importantly it was counter to the terms of the auction that were listed prior to bidding. Had I known, I might not have bid as high as I did, on account of the inconvenience and risk of not receiving the work. I sent copies and snapshots of the text from these term for the auction to the gallery, which refused to honor them. Now I have my artwork and received it covered in layers of dust that look years old. There are even small bits of plaster buried inside the sculpture. Was the gallery/auction house not even willing to clean or polish a work of art worth thousands of dollars? It seems as though a gallery would be more likely to have the infrastructure for proper cleaning than I would. I only have a small collection, but the experience with John Moran runs counter to other remote buying experiences. I would be unlikely to purchase from this auction house again, unless there were no other place to obtain comparable artwork. Local bidders may have better experiences if they can see and pick up the art. It does seem like a lost opportunity to recruit new buyers from a national audience. I hope they will figure out how to do a better job helping buyers receive their work, and making the terms of purchase clear prior to bidding. read more

Professional, knowledgeable, courteous . Very honest people, pleasure to work with. Highly recommend. read more

Jeff, mostly I'm not good at words.... I mean given enough time and conviction I can usually convey my emotions adequately, but as a whole they tend to fall short. Today it is not an exception to that, but I will try.... I remember our first meeting... I put on a nice shirt gathered myself nervously and walked through the door. I walked in with catalogs of pictures of my parents collection and you had catalogs from your past auctions. And we sat there for awhile and tried to figure out whose catalog was bigger. We had one drink that turned into another and we laughed as we learned about each other, our families, our history and eventually we forgot about our catalogs and enjoyed each other. The next step was meeting my family.... I asked you for a presentation, I wanted you to be able to show my family what I saw and had learned. I had hoped they could see what I saw in you and Moran. It was reverence and character. It was carrying on a fathers tradition of love and understanding and letting us know how we as a client fit into all of that. I think I put on a nice shirt again that day, and I was nervous once again, but this time it was you walking through the door and you came armed with Morgana as a secret weapon. As I watched you and her talk about many of the same things you and I had talked about I knew it was the truth, and from that point forward and we became partners. And here we are partner, months later, and somewhere along the way I have gotten to know your family and you mine. The fluid has been less than friction and the attention we as a family have received has been stellar. I appreciate it. Marandas gentle touch with my sister and walking her through the process has been wonderful. Being a part of your process was both enlightening and humbling. I don't think, I mean, I know, that there isn't any other auction house that would have done what you have for her and her behalf I want to say thank you. For me... the three hardest parts of the auction process are the willingness to wait for the right moment, letting go, and the courage not to be disappointed with what I encounter. Im thankful to you personally. I'm thankful for your team. I'm thankful for your help through what could have been a very difficult process and what you all have done to minimize that. Thank you for making the decision to move forward with Moran a good one. Forward has been a challenge for me, especially now, broken leg and all, but I know that forward is the only way to move. It's mostly with a strong but vague persuasion that I can tell you I mostly don't give a shit about what anyone else thinks, but I appreciate you. Thank you! read more

John Moran Auctioneers - Auction Houses Near Me - Monrovia, California

See all

they did not accurately describe an auction item, putting it kindly. Their staff resisted, addressing the problem until a manager got involved. He promised to have the item sent in for repairs, but it never was. I contacted the company three times and received no satisfaction. I cannot think less of them than I do. They are absolute punks. read more

We needed appraisals for some family jewelry and in this instance our usual go-to (Gem City Jewelers in Monrovia) referred us to John Moran, and their jewelry specialist, Mollie. Mollie is deeply knowledgeable & professional while also being warm & friendly. She was very helpful to my wife and I during our visits regarding family jewelry, and we learned quite a bit from her. Very generous with her time and accommodating of our schedules. On a side note, we arrived early for our first appointment and were welcomed to the gallery to view pieces for an upcoming event. My wife, being an artist, felt like she'd been to a museum. For years we had driven past the building and didn't know what was there. Glad we happened upon it. read more

High quality auction house - great art, lovely people to deal with - always enjoy the experience.

I would give more than 5 stars if I could. I purchased my first auction with John Moran and I can't tell you how pleased I am. I had it independently appraised and all of the specifics were exactly as JMA described and I realized what a great price I paid for such an amazing item! The staff was so pleasant and friendly and made the whole transaction, which could be extremely stressful when you are purchasing an expensive item, so stress free and wonderful! I will be purchasing from JMA again no doubt - they are one of the finest! read more

Just love the staff here as they are quite impressive with their knowledge of everything they sell. Their auctions are well organized and fun to attend, whether online or in person. Highly recommended. :) read more

I recently made my first purchase at John Moran. The process was seamless and efficient. Most striking was the job performed by the packers/shippers. I have never had a painting so carefully (and cleverly!) packaged for shipping. Since the piece was 200 years old I was definitely concerned about any damage that might result. No need to worry! When I opened the package my painting was undamaged after its 400 mile trip. Kudos to all involved! read more

When my grandmother passed away my mother and I were unsure of the value of the antiques, jewelry, and coins in her estate. I thought we might benefit from auctioning these items and came across John Moran online. I was put in touch with John Simon Taylor and he was wonderful. He was exceedingly helpful and even though it turned out none of the items were fit for auction, he still treated me with the utmost courtesy and respect, taking the time to answer all of my questions and explain the process of estate sales. He also recommended two excellent estate sales agents who might better fit our needs and helped me get in touch with them. We did take the jewelry and coins up to Moran's to have Ana Wroblaski take a closer look and again, even though it turned out nothing was fit for auction, she did help us make some good decisions about what to do with the items and put us in touch with other companies that might suit us better. Just to speak even more to the excellent character of this company, while we were at the office, we had a flat tire and were having trouble getting AAA out in a timely manner (over a two hour wait they told us!). It just so happened that their photographer Shane walked down the hall near the room we were waiting in and we stopped him and asked if someone knew how to change a flat. He cheerfully offered to do it himself and was done in 10 minutes. What a lifesaver! He was so happy to help and he wouldn't even accept a little cash for a nice lunch on us as a thank you, saying he was just glad to be of service to someone in the community. What a guy. (If you read this, THANKS SHANE!!!). I hope we have the opportunity to use the services of John Moran Auctioneers some time in the future and I would not hesitate a moment to recommend them to anyone who is looking for a high quality auction house. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. There has always been exceptional curated art as well as many fun amenities to further sweeten the deal, like an organic coffee bar, wood fired pizza, wine, etc. Totally fun for any art enthusiast even if you can't afford some of the auctions. Most importantly (to me at least) John is such a kind, warm and caring gentleman and I would say the same about his wife. He is a very talented auctioneer and his passion for art is totally evident. He once told me he's so thankful for his career and wakes up every morning excited for what he's doing. I think that sets the tone for this place That same energy is apparent in all of his staff both front of house and back of house as well. Every single staff Ive met have been very friendly, going out of their way to be courteous and kind. Really cool place, happy to know it. read more

I had some things auctioned by them a number of years ago, and I was treated very courteously at the time and paid promptly. On the other hand, I wrote them a letter a year or two ago about auctioning something else, and it was never answered. ?? But I still like them. read more

Trust. I have dealt with Moran Auctioneers for over twenty years, as both a buyer and seller, but until I sold a family heirloom diamond, always as a buyer. Because of my straightforward experience buying California oil paintings from Moran, knowing their roots in Southern California (it's home) and their knowledge of the market, I trusted them with reselling my gem. I had in hand, appraisals from two reputable jewelers, based only on their experience, but unverified by an unbiased third-party source. Unlike those jewelers, Moran Auctioneers obtained a GIA Natural Diamond Grading Report of the piece, unbiased with just the facts, to see exactly what we had. Once we had the GIA report in hand, an educated estimate could be made. The selling process was safe, comfortable and they took care of all the details. I was extremely happy with the entire process. They treated me like family, with respect as a client, and settled up in a timely fashion. That's as good as it gets. read more

I can't tell you how pleased my family and I were with how John Moran Auctioneers handled our parents' estate items. Everything about our contact with the firm went beautifully. Questions were answered almost immediately, the process was very well explained, the staff couldn't have been more helpful and knowledgeable, and they got us top dollar for our items. I highly recommend working with them! read more

I purchase from auction houses all the time. My assistant got a condition report from this auction house and we based our bidding on what was disclosed by email. After spending $37,500 on a Warhol, we received a print with white paint smeared over top of the print. It took weeks and several unmet promises to return my call before them rejecting my request for a refund. I told them if a conservator could remove it, I would keep it. They made $7500 in commissions off me! Still they didn't offer any accommodation whatsoever. Sothebys, Christies, Phillips, Bonhams would disclose with enough accuracies that there would be no remorse. However, this is the risk with a smaller auction house (most have integrity still). John Moran Auctioneers I will never do business with again. I'm not saying that this is a common trend with them, but this was my one and only experience and for such a high ticket item, I am clearly in shock over this. read more

I recently sold a pair of George Nakashima chairs with John Moran Auctioneers and I was extremely happy with the results. I got a very fair commission rate and the chairs sold for nearly two times the estimate! The process was really easy from start to finish and I thought they did a really great job representing my dear chairs. read more

If you don't know what your inherited items are worth, don't risk losing out -- contact Moran Auctioneers! I had an excellent experience selling some inherited family items through them. We had very little idea about the value of what we had, so I emailed some photos and quickly received a request to meet with their painting and jewelry experts to look at my pieces. I consigned most items with them right on the spot, and was given a very thorough contract that included estimated auction values, fees (very fair), and reserve prices. A few pieces were harder to identify and value, and I was kind of blown away with the great lengths they went to to research and authenticate these mystery pieces. We're talking months of communicating with worldwide experts to verify the items. They're serious about authenticity. I was also impressed with the marketing and outreach that jewelry expert Mollie did to their community of known buyers, and thanks to her efforts, one of the items sold for way, way beyond the estimate. The owner, Jeff, is super nice and I enjoyed working with him throughout the process. He has some great stories about items and people who have come through Moran's in the past 50 years. An excellent selling experience, and I look forward to become a Moran's bidder next time around! read more

What an amazing bunch of people. I feel this industry is all about Trust and finding someone compassionate about ART and selling items for what they are worth. The staff at John Moran Auctioneers is beyond amazing and super knowledgeable. They are here to help and i would give them 10 starts but i guess 5 will have to do. Great job guys and keep up the amazing work! read more

I've been buying from Moran's for 30 years, and they have never strayed from their mission of fairness, and thoughtfulness, in any of the transactions in which I've participated. I just left the offices after picking-up a purchase, and the Art Handler's in the warehouse, Joe Miranda, and Richard Corral were wonderful; they loaded, wrapped, and prepared my purchase with such concern and care, I can only say how grateful I am for their professionalism. The office staff is wonderful as well, and totally accommodating my schedule. Jeff Moran, the owner is helpful, and just a good guy, and he came out to greet me and thank me for my purchase. How nice to see that there are still caring individuals who work hard, and want to exemplify the phrase "customer service". I thoroughly recommend this organization. They have integrity, and they truly care. Such a nice thing to see nowadays. read more

I'm glad to see the number of good experiences folks had with John Moran Auctioneers. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't good. I consigned a large, turn of the 19th century painting by a well-regarded French painter. The contact I dealt with in person - Morgana - was very pleasant. When I expressed concern that their valuation of my painting seemed high - and that I would prefer they offer it without reserve, I was assured they knew better. When the painting was offered in Auction number 1, it received a single bid for an amount I would have been happy with, but because it didn't meet their minimum, the painting was brought in. I waited a few weeks to hear what "plan B" might be, then emailed Morgana. Waited a week then emailed again and waited another week and emailed again. Then I waited ANOTHER week, and finally called them thinking Morgana must not work for them anymore. Spoke to another customer service contact, and arranged for the painting to be offered again in a subsequent auction. A WEEK AFTER THAT, I finally heard from Morgana (a **month** after my first attempt) who had no idea I had already spoken to her coworker. So, the second auction arrives, and my painting has been tacked on at the very end (#279 out of 286 lots - not exactly a marquee position). This time it received no bids and was brought in again. A week later I received an email saying my painting needed to be picked up, as they would not offer it at auction a third time. Fine, I think. I'll donate the painting to a local charity, and I leave a voicemail for Morgana identifying the person who would be picking the painting up and telling her to expect to hear from the charity. Of course, this morning I get a call from Moran's saying someone called to arrange to pick up the painting, but they can't release it without my authorization. I point out that I had left a voicemail for Morgana giving the authorization and all the required information. I asked the lady on the other end of the phone if Morgana just doesn't read her emails or listen to her voicemails, because I never got a timely response to any of mine. "She's very busy," was the response. So there is clearly a customer communication issue at Moran's that no one seems concerned about. Keep that in mind if you decide to consign with them. read more

Sometimes one needs to acknowledge a wrong and this is my mea culpa on this auction house. I left a public review on the Tammis Day sale they had on October 3rd. This review rattled many people and while I felt genuinely upset by the poor performance of my bids, I must admit that the auction proved to be a resounding success. I simply wished I was made aware in a more forthcoming manner that the purpose of the sale was for a charitable cause. I would not have had my hopes dashed and would have approached this sale with a different energy. Again the staff proved to be helpful and nice to deal with . And all I can think of that this was a big miscommunication issue that did not warrant me being so upset about, John Moran is to be commanded that all the proceeds of the sale goes to the charity set up by the late Tammis Day. read more

Unexperienced as I am at auctioning anything of value, I googled "auctioneers Arts & Crafts". Several names came up. I contacted some of the firms and was met with dismissive attitudes and lack of concern. One place even suggested such a low-ball value of my item that I was sure they were attempting to take advantage of me. Then I contacted John Simon Taylor of John Moran and, from the start, he was warm and helpful and knowledgable. I sent photos and as much information as possible about my vase, and the estimated value seemed reasonable to me. None of us had any idea that the vase, dated 1929 and signed by a famous ceramicist of the period, would set a world record for her pieces, more than tripling the auction price of any other piece. And quite frankly, well exceeding the estimate, but as John said, "We had nothing to compare it to. No other similar piece had ever been auctioned." I was thrilled with the outcome. John Simon Taylor was thrilled. The auction house was thrilled. And the new owners were over the moon. I would recommend John Moran Auctioneers and John Simon Taylor particularly to anyone seeking to auction valuable belongings, regardless of their experience with the milieu. read more

Truly Sad, to see how far "Down Hill" this place has gone!! I bought "many" paintings here, over the years, but wouldn't go back for "Anything", now that the old man is dead. The last few paintings I bought, had "Obvious" problems, from signatures, that were repainted, to "Freshly Heavily Varnished" attempt(s) at hiding other problems. The varnish on two pieces, was so fresh, that they were still off gassing, but there was "no mention" of "Newly Varnished" in either description, like I've found with other "Reputable" auction houses. Not worth the risk/hassle. read more

I contacted John Moran Auctioneers, by way of Mr. John Simon Taylor, to see if they could give me an auction estimate of an item I had obtained at a church sale. Mr. Taylor responded very quickly and soothed any worries I may have had communicating with an auction house. Mr. John Simon Taylor was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and exceeding polite. He brought back memories of living in South Carolina where being a Southern Gentleman is commonplace, not an exception. He welcomed us and communicated directly the (price) expectations we should expect from the acquired item we planned to present to him based on initial historical auction research. However, of course, he needed to see it in person for a more solid idea on possible hammer price. Prior to meeting in person, we asked if dogs were welcome. Without a moment's hesitation, he said, "Yes, of course they are welcome". I am quite sure he may have regretted that decision after we came with our two "hate-the-world-everyone-is-an-enemy" Chihuahuas... They barked and barked but Mr. John Simon Taylor and his associate did not bat an eye or skip a beat. Matter of fact, they were so calm, they actually lessened the eternal fear of life my dogs seem to have. It was a great experience. We also brought some jewelry (to determine auction suitability) without precursor or warning, and his jewelry specialist (Mrs. Ana Wroblaski) smoothly stepped in and competently proceeded to determine their value if (they were) placed under the gavel. She, like Mr. John Simon Taylor, was very knowledgeable with blessed with an abundance of patience as my dogs jockeyed for vocal dominance. Our experience was extremely positive and I cannot recommend this Auction House enough. If you ever come across an item that you think is a treasure and may have some value, call Mr. John Simon Taylor at (626) 793-1833 and make an appointment. You will be very pleased with, not only the in-house knowledge and expertise, but also the social graces and good manners this auction house exhibits. read more

I recently attended the Tammis Day auction and had a blast! John Moran Auctioneers provided a legacy tribute to Tammis Day that was expertly curated. From the auction catalog that could easily be doubled as an artful coffee table book that you could look at for hours, to the beautifully staged auction floor giving honor to each of her pieces for sale, to the warm and inviting staff excited to share stories and any information they had about the collection, to the heartfelt champagne toast led by Jeff Moran honoring Tammis Day and her family before the auction started - the event was a class act! It's rare to find one individual with such an interesting and tremendous collection and wonderful to see it backed by a loving family that donated all the proceeds of the auction to charity. I am very happy I attended and got to bring home one of Tammis Day's treasures. It will live on in my home and be loved! Looking forward to the next John Moran auction! read more

Unfortunately my experience with John Moran Auctioneers was not a good one. I had purchased 2 paintings from them, 1 in 2005 for ~$1400, 2nd in 2009 for $2300. The artist, Joane Cromwell, lived in Laguna Beach and exhibited there from the 1920s to the 1950s. She painted desert landscapes and seascapes. The paintings I have are of Palm Desert. I recently contacted the auctioneers to put the first painting up for auction. I was told it was only worth $200. I explained that I purchased it from them at 7 times that price. They said that was a good year. But I explained I bought the 2nd in early 2009, right after the stock market crash and still paid top dollar. They were sorry for my frustration and disappointment. 'Ta', so buyer beware: these are not ethical people. They misrepresent values and inflate prices, and are sorry for your pain. I'd like compensation instead of banalities. read more

I have had the best experience with the items I have auctioned at John Morans. They have exceeded my expectations on there knowledge of expertise. In fact the items sold for well over the estimates. My family is very pleased with the results of our auctioned items. We look forward to attending future auctions, there so much fun, its a modern day treasure hunt! read more

The staff at John Moran Auctioneers is courteous, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile. I can't recommend them enough.They make themselves available almost instantly to answer any question or concern. The wide ranging expertise of the staff is incredible. Not only are their auctions expertly curated but their appraisers know their stuff. This is a family owned and operated business and with that you get the white glove treatment-- honest dealings, personalized service, and an unparalleled business acumen. read more

I visited John Moran Auctioneers based on a friend's recommendation. I am so glad I followed her advice. From my initial email inquiry to being matched with an estate expert, John Simon Taylor, my experience was absolutely positive. John was honest, helpful and friendly. He walked me through the assessment of value process and brought in experts in different fields who provided further insight. I highly recommend John Moran Auctioneers and estate specialist John Simon Taylor. It is rare to find integrity in the business world today. I am happy to say I found it at John Moran. read more

I have gotten several things appraised here and it's always been more than pleasant here. Every person that I encountered were extremely helpful and friendly. :) read more