Witherell Witherell
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Our House · Since 1969

A family business,
two generations deep.

Founded by Brad Witherell at the age of 25 in Sacramento, California — and now led by his son Brian, a recurring appraiser on PBS's Antiques Roadshow. We have spent fifty-seven years connecting one-of-a-kind objects to passionate collectors.

Our Story

Two generations.
One passion.

Witherell's was founded in 1969 by Brad Witherell, who began working as a firearms dealer at the age of 25. Over the next four decades, the firm earned a national reputation in firearms, fine art, jewelry, and Native & Western Americana — with offices steps from the California State Capitol in Midtown Sacramento.

Today the company is led by Brian Witherell, who has appeared as an appraiser on PBS's Antiques Roadshow since 1997. The firm has handled the estates of WWII Generals Anthony McAuliffe and Joseph McNarney, set a world record in 2021 with the sale of Al Capone's personal Colt .45 for over $1,000,000, and overseen deaccessions from the Crocker Art Museum.

Our offices are located in Midtown Sacramento, with affiliate operations at Annex Auctions and Nevada Gun Auction.

My dad and I spend our lives immersed in the world of antique appraisals and estate auctions. The Sacramento region is rich in history and we love being part of it.
— Brian Witherell, Owner
The Witherells

A family-run auction house.

Brad and Angie Witherell

Founders

In 1982, Brad and Angie Witherell hosted their first auction at the Embassy Suites hotel in San Francisco — an ambitious venture launched on borrowed money, with no prior auction experience and their three teenage children along for the inaugural "Americana Auction." More than 40 years later, the business has grown into a multi-million-dollar enterprise across numerous categories and price points. Despite many offers from investors and competitors, the Witherells remain independent — a family business built on honesty and integrity.

Brian and Donna Witherell

Owners

"I never worked harder than I did at that first auction in 1982, and I loved every minute of it!" Brian recalls. That weekend he turned sixteen, solidifying his future as an auctioneer. For years he traveled the country with his father Brad — attending shows, visiting clients, and appearing on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow since 1997. In 2024, Brian and his wife Donna took over ownership of the company, continuing the firm's decades-long philosophy of steady growth and steadfast client service.

Poncho

Watch Dog

Poncho serves mostly as the company's watch dog, though his primary concerns are the occasional passing squirrels, cats, and dogs. While he dreams of a life where the gate is always open, he's perfectly happy sniffing around and napping when it's closed. Ever the optimist, Poncho holds out hope for the spontaneous arrival of food at any moment.

Selected Milestones

Fifty-seven years at the rostrum.

1969

Founded in Sacramento

Brad Witherell, age 25, opens the firm as a firearms dealership in Midtown Sacramento.

1982

Native & Western Americana department established

Recognizing a regional specialty, the department becomes the first beyond firearms — and remains a house cornerstone.

1997

Antiques Roadshow

Brian Witherell joins PBS's Antiques Roadshow as a recurring appraiser. He has appeared in every season since.

2008

Crocker Art Museum deaccessions

Witherell's begins overseeing fine art deaccessions for the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento's flagship art institution.

2021

Al Capone's Colt .45 — $1M+

The post-1898 firearm auction record is set with the sale of Al Capone's personal Colt .45, in the firm's Live Luxury Auction.

2026

The Cali Collection

The Property of the Al & Carol Cali Collection — four decades of California Gold Rush, Wells Fargo, and Lincoln assassination ephemera — sells at live auction at The Sutter Club, Sacramento.