CHICAGO, IL.- Freeman’s | Hindman announces a nearly 9% year-over-year increase in total sales for the first half of 2025, despite a reported 6% decline1 in the broader art market during the same period. With a robust 89% sell-through rate by lot and 121% by value, the firm recorded one of the strongest first halves in its recent history. The growth reflects accelerated national and global demand, with 24% of bidders new to the firm, and participants from 53 countries.

“These results reflect the incredible momentum our team has built across categories,” said Alyssa Quinlan, CEO of Freeman’s | Hindman. “We’re seeing increased engagement from collectors around the world who value the expertise of our specialists and the depth of our curated offerings.”

Significant Category Growth

Freeman’s | Hindman posted strong year-over-year increases across several departments. The following are some that experienced the highest increases:



Lincoln’s Legacy: A Record-Setting Sale


A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination,14 April 1865. | Sold for $1,512,500

In May, Freeman’s | Hindman achieved a landmark moment with Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln, presented on behalf of the Lincoln Presidential Foundation. The auction realized $7.9 million, surpassing its $4M estimate, broke five world records, and drew over 1.2 billion media impressions, with coverage from The New York Times, ArtNet, CBS News, and others. The highest-selling lot of the auction was a poignant pair of stained leather gloves that President Abraham Lincoln carried in his pocket the night he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. The gloves realized $1,512,500, setting a new benchmark for Lincoln-related historical artifacts.

Season Highlights



Andy Warhol, Cowboys and Indians (the complete portfolio of ten), 1986. Sold for $838,700



Gertrude Abercrombie, Set for the Night, 1950. Sold for $267,200



$100,000 Reward! The murderer of our late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, is still at large. 20 April 1865. Sold for $762,500



Fritz Scholder, Four Indian Riders, 1967. Sold for $476,750



Clarence Alphonse Gagnon, Sunday Morning, Québec, c. 1921. Sold for $457,700



Van Cleef & Arpels, Coral, Diamond, and Emerald Jewelry Suite. Sold for $343,400



Lê Phổ, La Clarté d'Été, c. 1975. Sold for $432,300



Executed 1791-1793. Charles Peale Polk, A Portrait Of General George Washington At Princeton. Sold for $406,900



A cuff button worn by President Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination at Ford's Theatre, 14 April 1865. Sold for $445,000

Engaging the Art World

The firm also deepened its community and institutional engagement through national programming, including:

• The Baer Faxt Talks in Chicago with Josh Baer
• New York Season Kickoff with Marion Maneker, Wendy Cromwell, and Drew Watson
• Fritz Scholder Panel in Denver featuring Dr. Julie Sasse, Tony Abeyta, and Dr. Annabeth Headrick
• Lincoln’s Legacy Panel in New York with Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer

Looking Ahead: A Historic Fall Season

Freeman’s | Hindman enters the second half of 2025 preparing to celebrate its 220th anniversary. The firm will present a landmark series of single-owner sales, including property from Phyllis and Fred Pressman—the visionaries behind the rise of Barneys New York—Betty and Gordon Moore of San Francisco, renowned garden and event designer Renny Reynolds, among others.

Freeman’s | Hindman

Freeman's | Hindman is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s | Hindman strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.


1 ArtTactic. (2025). RawFacts Auction Review: First Half 2025.