Whitaker ~ Augusta Auction Company is America’s only auction house specializing exclusively in the sale of Couture & Vintage Clothing, Lace, Linens, Accessories, Textiles & fashion-related Ephemera and Objects.

Our firm represents museums, historical societies, universities and other institutions bringing to market museum de-accessions & patron donations, with sale proceeds earmarked to benefit their permanent collections. We also represent individuals & select estates in liquidation of rare items and collections that complement our spring and fall catalogued fashion auction sales.

Consignors, both institutional and individual, are assured that their textile treasures will be treated with respect and will benefit from our targeted marketing program directed to a world-wide customer base.

Serious buyers from the international fashion, museum, film and textile worlds journey to New Hope, Pennsylvania to attend our single-owner and combined-owner specialty sales. Consignments receive spirited bidding from knowledgeable auction-goers in our gallery, through absentee and order bidding, on the telephone or utilizing the Internet Live Auction service.

Charles A. Whitaker:
Charles A Whitaker began his career as a teenager working in the antique business on Philadelphia’s Main Line. He later established a well-known retail antique shop in Philadelphia and founded the Charles A. Whitaker Auction Co in 1991.

Mr. Whitaker is fully licensed and bonded as an auctioneer by the state of Pennsylvania, and boasts 35 years experience in the Arts, Antiques and Auction Industry Over the years he has sold collections from some of Philadelphia's most prominent families. His knowledge and expertise in furniture and fine arts have resulted in many auction records.

In addition to his own firm, Charles serves as an appraiser, consultant and auctioneer with several national auction houses.
caw@whitakerauction.com   215-817-4600  

Karen Augusta:
Karen Augusta has purchased, sold and appraised antique clothing, laces, textiles and fashion accessories for almost four decades. She is the owner of Antique Lace & Fashion, an historic costume and textile business geared to museums and serious collectors.

In 1996, Karen developed www.antique-fashion.com , an award winning web site that has extended her knowledge and love of historic costume to clients in far reaching locales. Its companion site, www.antique-lace.com , has been used as a resource and teaching tool in many classes over the past decade.

Karen has curated or acted as consultant for many costume and lace exhibits in the United States and has appraised collections for public institutions and private collectors throughout North America. Karen is a member of The Costume Society of America and The Textile Society of America. She serves as a fashion and textile appraiser on the popular PBS series, Antiques Roadshow.
karen@whitakerauction.com   802-463-3333

 Charles and Karen first met and collaborated on identification of an important clothing, lace and textile collection in 1991. In 2000, Charles and Karen merged their talents and formed a partnership to offer specialty historic/couture/vintage clothing and textile auctions. This alliance has evolved into the largest specialty fashion auction house in the world.

Institutions, Estates and Collections that have had representation
by the Charles A. Whitaker Auction Company