Agnew & Sons, Ltd., Thomas

Biography

1810 - Thomas Agnew [b. 1794 in Liverpool], apprenticed to Vittore Zanetti, an art dealer in Manchester.

1817/1818 - Agnew made partner in Zanetti's firm.

1826 - Business moves from 94 Market Street, Liverpool to Exchange Street, Liverpool, and remained there until 1932.

1828 - V. Zanetti retires; his son Joseph continues in the business. Firm name changes to "Agnew and Zanetti".

1835 - Thomas Agnew becomes sole proprietor after J. Zanetti leaves firm.

1840 - William Lockett Agnew [b. 1825], Thomas' son, becomes an apprentice with the firm.

1851 - Agnew's sons William and Thomas taken into partnership.

1859 - Agnew's opens branch in Dale St., Liverpool.

1860 - Agnew's opens branch in London at 5 Waterloo Place.

1861 - Thomas Agnew (Sr.) retires.

1871 - Thomas Agnew (Sr.) dies.

1875 - London branch moves to 39 (now 43) Old Bond Street.

1895 - William Agnew retires; George Agnew becomes manager of Manchester branch (until 1902).

1896 - Walter Agnew becomes a partner in Christie's.

1904 - Gerald Agnew [1882-1954] joins firm.

1906 - Colin Agnew, son of George, joins firm.

1908 - Gallery in Berlin opened.

1909 - Liverpool branch (Dale St.) closes.

1913 - Morland Agnew [1855-1931] retires.

1918 - Lockett Agnew dies without heirs; Morland buys out Lockett's share and saves Company.

1919 - Paris branch re-opened.

1925 - Gallery in New York opened on 57th Street.

1931 - Manchester branch closed.

1931 - New York branch closed.

1946/c. 1965 - Very few American sales.

1963 - Managing directors: Colin Agnew, Hugh Agnew, Geoffrey Agnew, Richard Kinsett (great-grandson of William Agnew), Evelyn Joll (married one of William Agnew's great-granddaughters).

Bibliography

1861

Art Journal 23 [n.s. vol VII] (1861): 319. Article on the retirement of Thomas Agnew.

1967

Agnew, Geoffrey. Agnew's, 1817-1967. London, 1967.

1981

Agnew, Thomas, & Sons, Ltd. A Dealer's Record: Agnew's 1867-1981. London, 1981.

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