About Ramsay Cornish

Ramsay Cornish is an independent auction house located in Edinburgh’s city centre. Our specialist team of valuers offer a personal service, always putting your interests first.

Our service includes a broad and careful marketing strategy ensuring the best exposure for items consigned to sale. Our expertise offers a combined experience of over 100 years in the auction business.

Our friendly saleroom and office staff are here to help.

We are one of the very few auction houses to offer a broad variety of auction type enabling us to deal with all levels of property under one roof. We host a fortnightly Antiques & Interiors auction and bimonthly Specialist auctions. All our auctions benefit from online exposure.

Specialists are always on hand to offer free pre sale valuations either at the saleroom or in your home
Our Valuations Department undertakes formal valuations for Inheritance Tax, Insurance etc.
Our team of Specialists is available throughout Scotland
A friendly, approachable and discreet professional service

Our Team

Martin Cornish

Senior Auctioneer and Valuer

Martin Cornish brings over thirty years’ experience. He trained for the first fifteen years of his professional life with Lyon and Turnbull of George Street, Edinburgh. A grand lady of Edinburgh auctioneering, Lyon and Turnbull taught him skills which have underpinned his professional life. Integrity, care for the customer and the value of long term professional relationships are key to his working ethic. Martin oversees the Valuations Department with specialist interest in furniture, contemporary design and Oriental works of art.

T: 0131 553 7000
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Richard Edwards

Originally from the West coast of Scotland, Richard first qualified as a solicitor before going on to build a career in auctioneering. He joined Sotheby’s New York in 1993 as a specialist in the European Works of Art Dept, before moving to Doyle New York as a General Valuer and Appraiser. Returning to the UK in 2003, he has headed up a provincial auction house in Yorkshire. We are sure you will find Richard highly knowledgeable with a charming and friendly approach.

T: 0131 553 7000
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Dickie Pavey

Specialist consultant

From teenage years as a collector of militaria Dickie found himself working with one of Edinburgh’s most flamboyant and knowledgeable antique dealers, specialising in militaria including medals and weapons, stamps, coins and collectables, in the 1980s. Dickie learnt by handling a wide range of antiques and collectables; the best way to learn with an experienced and knowledgeable mentor. With a natural eye, curiosity and eclectic interests, this passionate interest continued as an integral part of his working and personal life.

T: 0131 553 7000
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Andrew Baylay

Saleroom Manager

Andrew hails from Bermuda arriving in the UK in 2015, he spent four years working at the iconic Lots Road auction house in London before moving to Edinburgh and joining us here at Ramsay Cornish. Andrew runs our busy saleroom, and is happy to help with consignments. Andrew previously worked for the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda archives and is an amateur archaologist. He has an academic interest in the Atlantic World.

T: 0131 553 7000
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Drew Bain

Drew Bain (consultant) from The Laws of Nature, advises on all aspects of taxidermy and natural history. This is an increasingly delicate area with protective legislation in place and it is essential to ensure that any items in this category are correctly appraised. Drew can arrange and oversee the entire CITES process enabling sellers to maximise their return for items which are increasingly challenging to sell.

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Bruce Addison