Since its inception around the time of the Civil War, this auction house has expanded both domestically and internationally. Truly among the elite of the fine art and antique dealing world, the main categories of its business include furniture & decorations, books & manuscripts, and estate auctions. Although many of the antiquities at this Sunset Boulevard location derive from Beverly Hills area estates, its origins are often European, particularly French or English. Bonhams & Butterfields runs a busy schedule of auctions, which focus on a single estate or types of products.