Pierre Koller officiating during an early Koller auction

Two generations:
Founder Pierre Koller (left) and Cyril Koller

The auction room during the sale of Giovanni Giacometti's painting, "Stampa"

Cyril Koller during an auction

A half-century for art

1958 - Pierre Koller, having spent his youth between the French and German parts of Switzerland (Lausanne and Zurich), decides to make a career out of his hobby. At age 34, he opens a gallery of equestrian engravings and antique furniture on Zurich's Dufourstrasse. The timing was right, and Pierre Koller took advantage of his excellent contacts to establish himself on the Zurich market.

1959 - Pierre's sister Antoinette joins the business, contributing her specialized knowledge of Asian art and porcelain. At this time, a German clock collector offers to sell his entire collection to Koller, but the asking price of 100 000 Swiss francs is over the young entrepreneur's budget. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, however, Pierre Koller convinces the collector to consign his clocks for auction.

1960 - The first auction is held in the Zurich Kongresshaus. Approximately 1000 lots are catalogues and sold, successfully. One year later, another auction is held with furniture, porcelain and modern art, including Swiss and international artists such as Ferdinand Hodler and Eugène Boudin.

1961 - The Galerie Koller moves to spacious premises at Rämistrasse 8, in Zurich's cultural center, close to museums, the municipal theater and the opera. Auctions gain in importance over antique dealing, and the firm soon holds two auctions annually.

1977 - "Koller Tiefenbrunnen," a branch for "arcade" auctions, is opened. The ancestor of today's "Koller West" across the street from Koller's main galleries, Koller's arcade auctions provide a separation between sales of top quality and middle-range qorks of art, and allow the company to handle entire estates and large collections.

1980 - The Koller Geneva branch office is opened, and will soon be (along with, for several years, the Château de Lucens) the second auction center for Koller. Eventually, Koller Geneva will specialize in Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Design as well as Modern Illustrated Books and Wine, collecting categories not covered by Koller Zurich's auctions.

1990 - The Zurich headquarters moves to a new, larger and more practical space on Hardturmstrasse 102 in west Zurich. The rationalization of office, exhibition and warehouse space is greatly appreciated by the clientele as well as the employees of Koller. At this time, Cyril Koller, the eldest son of Pierre and Ursula Koller, begins working at the company at the age of 23.

1998 - Cyril Koller takes over the management of the company. Under his direction, the auction house evolves from being a "general store" type operation to a modern enterprise with various teams of specialists under one roof. The passing of Antoinette Koller, who brought the Asian art department of Koller to an international standing, occurs during Koller's 40th anniversary year.

1998 - Koller further develops its international reach by joining IA, International Auctioneers, a group of eight leading auction houses worldwide.

19XX - Koller Munich opens

2005 -  Koller Paris opens

2006 - Koller Shanghai opens: Koller is one of the first European auction houses to organize and auction devoted to Chinese contemporary art.

2006 - Koller Moscow opens

2008 - Koller London opens

2008 - Koller celebrates its 50th anniversary. Its name is officially changed from "Galerie Koller" to "Koller Auctions." Its jubilee anniversary witnesses the first auction dedicated entirely to contemporary art.