Of Ancestry, Antiques & Art

Over a Century of Auctions in London, Ontario

Gardner Galleries traces its origins to 1922, when George Gardner conducted his first auction in London, Ontario. Among his early sales was selling horses for the City of London during the transition from horse‑drawn to gas‑powered vehicles. Over the following decades, he handled major auctions including the dispersal of Tecumseh House—once the largest hotel in Canada—as well as the contents of many of London’s finest homes throughout the Great Depression in the 1930s.

After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, George’s son Jason Gardner joined the business. When George passed away unexpectedly in 1952, Jason continued as auctioneer and appraiser, eventually purchasing the company’s first permanent auction house at 2 Langarth Street West in 1960. His career included selling for Fyfe’s of Edinburgh across Canada and making international headlines—including coverage in Time Magazine—when he was hired in the mid‑1960s to auction antiques from Castro’s Cuba for a Toronto business consortium.

In 1975, Jason’s son Grant Gardner entered the business and guided it toward a specialization in estate furnishings, antiques, and fine art. Notable sales under his direction included the contents of Castle Kilbride in Baden, Ontario, and the Dr. Alan Law Estate of Toronto, whose antique furniture collection realized over a million dollars. The antique market flourished throughout the 1980s and 1990s, prompting the purchase of a second building at 407 Hamilton Road in 1999 to accommodate weekly live auctions. These events quickly became a Tuesday‑night tradition, drawing several hundred dealers, collectors, and members of the public from across Ontario.

The fourth generation—James and Mark Gardner—grew up in the business, spending their teenage years working at live auctions and assisting with sale setups during evenings, weekends, and summers. In 2002, they attended the renowned Reppert School of Auctioneering in Auburn, Indiana, and later assumed leadership roles within the company. In 2011, James introduced monthly online art auctions in London and began managing high‑value collections for estates and private clients. Mark oversaw the long‑running Tuesday evening auctions and now conducts monthly online estate, furniture, and rug auctions that attract bidders worldwide. With more than 20 years of experience and accreditation through the Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers, the Gardner brothers continue to uphold the family legacy—while introducing the fifth generation, Zoey, Isabel, and Zara, to the world of auctions.

Auctioneering is one of the world’s oldest and respected professions, with roots stretching back over 2,500 years to Ancient Greece and Rome. Despite the many changes in technology and commerce over the centuries, the purpose of an auction has remained constant: to establish fair market value in a transparent and competitive setting. Today, Gardner Galleries is proud to be London’s longest‑running auction house and the oldest auction firm in Canada under continuous family ownership, carrying forward a tradition that spans more than a century.

Why Online?

Recognizing early market trends and the steady shift in demand from live to online formats, Gardner Galleries introduced online auctions in the summer of 2011. Within the first year, thousands of new clients had registered to bid online. Following the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, interest in online auctions surged worldwide, and many auction companies transitioned entirely to digital platforms as traditional live auctions began to disappear.

For buyers, the appeal is simple: convenience. Bidding can take place from a sofa, a desk, or even poolside—any time of day. For sellers, online auctions offer exposure to a significantly larger audience, often resulting in stronger prices. Where a well‑advertised live auction once attracted a crowd of 300 people, today’s online auctions are viewed by thousands of clients daily through our website, social media channels, and major web directories such as Google. While the atmosphere of live auctions is fondly remembered, the excitement and competitive spirit of bidding remain very much alive.

All online auctions are available for in‑person viewing at our beautifully renovated Art Deco building at 407 Hamilton Road in London.

Notable Achievements & Record-Setting Sales

Over the course of more than a century, the Gardner family has conducted thousands of successful auctions, achieving numerous milestones and setting multiple world and Canadian records. Among the many exceptional results include an oil on canvas by Arthur Elsley — Blind Man’s Bluff, sold for $350,000, a Simon Willard — rare tall case clock, sold for $64,000 and a 1970 Jaguar E‑Type 2+2 Coupe — sold for $110,800.

Gardner Galleries has also set several Canadian art records, including a Florence Carlyle oil on canvas — Spring Song, sold for $115,000, a 1921 A.Y. Jackson — 8½ × 10½ inch oil on panel, winter sleigh‑ride scene in Quebec, sold for $160,000, Brian Jones — Baby View, acrylic on canvas, sold for $38,000 and a major abstract oil on canvas by York Wilson — sold for $12,000. These records remain unbroken today.

The Discovery of the Captain James Wallis Album

One of the most extraordinary moments in Gardner Galleries history occurred in the spring of 2011, when Grant Gardner discovered an early hardcover book tucked away in the back of a clothes cupboard in a farmhouse near Thamesford, Ontario. The volume proved to be a lost treasure of Australian history: the Captain James Wallis Album, containing hand‑coloured engravings and watercolours created between 1816 and 1818, during Wallis’s tenure establishing the first British penal colony in Australia.

Following months of research, Gardner Galleries produced a dedicated full‑colour catalogue and offered the album at auction in the fall of 2011. Bidders from Australia, New Zealand, and Europe competed vigorously, and the album ultimately sold for an astonishing $2.2 million. The sale attracted worldwide media attention including coverage by CNN, and a special ceremony was later held in New South Wales, Australia to unveil the Wallis Album. Extensive documentation and further details about this historic discovery remain available online.

Partners in the Firm:

James Gardner

Director of Canadian & International Fine Art, Indigenous Art, Antiquarian Books & Unique Collections

Fourth Generation Auctioneer, Certified Appraiser and Website Development

Mark Gardner

Specialist in Furniture, Decorative Arts, Persian Rugs, Sports Memorabilia & Vintage Toys

Fourth Generation Auctioneer and Certified Appraiser

Grant Gardner

Expert in Jewellery, Fine Timepieces, Coins & Stamps

Patriarch of Gardner Galleries with a career spanning over 50 years as an Auctioneer & Appraiser

All Three Auctioneers are Accredited Appraisers with the Canadian Association of Personal Property Appraisers

Our Team:

Elizabeth Gardner

Accounting & Administration

Craig Snively

General Manager

Hilda Sass-Kortsak

Reception and Client Services

Ava Kelly

Reception and Client Services

Denise Krogman

Shipping & Receiving

A Glimpse Into The Past

Circa‑1950 view of 407 Hamilton Road, originally a Loblaws grocery store. Gardner Galleries acquired this historic building in 1999, preserving much of its original character, including the distinctive yellow porcelain tile façade:

Visit Our Showrooms

With new hardwood flooring, LED lighting and three designated galleries to display items for sale, this modernized 20,000 square foot space enhances the viewing experience while respecting the building’s architectural heritage: