Government Auction Art, Antiques & Decor
Government agencies auction art and decorative items - paintings, prints, sculptures, rugs, and antiques - from decommissioned public buildings and from seized or forfeited property, sometimes with original appraisals and certificates of authenticity attached.
267 active art & decor auctions across 5 official government sources, with new listings every 30 minutes.Last updated: 2026-09-09
Search all 267 Art & Decor auctions near you
Filter by price, distance, and when the auction ends
My Neighbor Totoro Vegetable Vase (Cucumber)- Studio Ghibli, retails $30 each
Garland, TX · 2 bids
Brand New - 17"x 30" Cute Christmas Rug, Non Skid Washable Xmas Rugs, Santa Claus - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - 17"x 30" Cute Christmas Rug, Non Skid Washable Xmas Rugs, Santa Claus - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - 18"×24" Bathroom Rug Mat, Extra Soft Absorbent Washable Bath Rug, Non-Slip, Grey - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - 2'x3' Boho Bathroom Rug Non Slip Washable, Blue Floral Small Area Rug, Light Blue - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - 24" x 36" Bathroom Rugs – Absorbent and Washable Bath Mat, Non-Slip, Blue - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - 24" x 36" Bathroom Rugs – Absorbent and Washable Bath Mat, Non-Slip, Blue - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
SHIPPING AVAILABLE Tufting Gun, Cut Pile Electric Carpet Weaving Flocking Machine, Rug Machines Starter Kit(M-03)
Conley, GA
Brand New - Hardware House 10-1059 Bennington Wall Light, Antique Bronze - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - Hardware House 543850 Berkshire Bath/Wall Lighting Fixture, Classic Bronze - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - Hardware House 54-4452 Bristol 5 Light Chandelier, 24"x15", Satin Nickel - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
Brand New - Large Farmhouse Wall Decor, Metal Farm Fresh Wall Art - Shipping Available
Columbus, OH
What they're worth: surplus art & decor typically sell for $55–$118 at government auction - median $89, from 332 completed sales in the last year, per the GovAuctions Surplus Price Index. Demand: art & decor sell about 19% of the time, typically ~2 bids, from 467 completed sales, per the GovAuctions Surplus Market Report. Look up a specific item · See all categories
Art reaches government auction by two very different routes. Some comes from public buildings being decommissioned or refurbished, where decades of accumulated furnishings, paintings, and prints are cleared at once. The rest comes from seizure and forfeiture, where law enforcement disposes of art taken in criminal cases, sometimes with appraisals and certificates of authenticity attached. Both routes produce lots that are priced to clear rather than priced to market. Browse current listings below.
Art & Decor Price Research
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where does art at government auctions come from?
- Two main sources. Public buildings being decommissioned or refurbished clear their furnishings, prints, and paintings in bulk. Separately, law enforcement disposes of art seized or forfeited in criminal cases, which is where most of the higher-value single pieces come from.
- Is government auction art authenticated?
- Sometimes, and it is worth checking the listing carefully. Forfeited pieces occasionally carry an appraisal or a certificate of authenticity from the original case file. Most items carry nothing at all and are sold as-is with no attribution guarantee, so treat an unsigned or unattributed piece as decor rather than as an investment.
- How is art shipped from a government auction?
- Usually not by parcel. Framed work, sculpture, and rugs are awkward rather than heavy, so they price as freight, and many agencies will not pack or crate at all. Assume local pickup or a specialist shipper, and price that in before bidding.
Other Categories
Browse Art & Decor Auctions by State
Or browse every category of government auction in Ohio, California, New Mexico, Georgia, Texas, Utah, Nevada, or Tennessee.
Looking for auctions near you?
Government Auctions Near Me lists local lots by distance, so you only see auctions you can realistically collect from.