NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 1stdibs (www.1stdibs.com), the leading online global marketplace for rare and desirable objects, is pleased to announce that it has just purchased Online Galleries, the prestigious UK-owned online services provider to the arts and antiques trade.

This important acquisition is the latest step in 1stdibs' strategic plan to grow its global online marketplace and become the destination of choice for collectors, buyers and designers who seek the most beautiful things on Earth. By adding over 200 leading UK dealer members of Online Galleries such as Adrian Alan, Koopman Rare Art, Mallet, Ronald Phillips Ltd, and Tadema Gallery, 1stdibs has now more than tripled its European dealer community.

1stdibs will feature over 1,700 dealers in seven countries and offer international buyers a broad range of categories including antique furniture and design, jewellery and watches, fine homes, vintage fashion and fine art. Examples include an important Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair, an 11-carat flawless pink diamond and a Parisian penthouse. Everything offered by 1stdibs is sold by dealers who have undergone a comprehensive application process that includes store visits and references from their peers, buyers, designers and architects.

"With our shared commitment to quality we feel that Online Galleries' member dealers will be the perfect complement to ours," said Michael Bruno, Founder of 1stdibs. "At the same time we are making it easier for discerning buyers to find the treasures they seek by providing a single destination for over 1,700 of the world's best dealers. We are also thrilled to welcome Carmine Bruno and his team to the 1stdibs family. We now have locally based talent to serve the combined member dealers," adds Michael Bruno.

Online Galleries (www.onlinegalleries.com) provides a marketplace and builds bespoke websites for 223 high-end UK dealers who are registered with one of the main UK trade associations: BADA, LAPADA, SLAD and CINOA as well as designing websites for these trade associations and antiques fairs.

As a welcome, current member dealers of OnlineGalleries.com can take up a special dealer package, enabling them to subscribe to 1stdibs on highly beneficial terms.

Adds Carmine Bruno (no relation to Michael Bruno) Managing Director of Online Galleries, who also becomes Managing Director of 1stdibs UK, "Michael Bruno and I share a similar vision for this industry. By selling to 1stdibs, we will now be able to offer our members the benefits that would have taken us years to achieve on our own including access to a global brand with a large, international buyer base and enhanced support from a team of engineers, product developers, customer service and marketing."

Since it was founded 11 years ago by Michael Bruno 1stdibs has become a global marketplace that is a recognised and trusted source for collectors, interior designers and buyers around the world.  Each week an average of 2,500 rare and beautiful objects are catalogued and added to the 1stdibs website by its 1,700 international dealers attracting more than a million unique visitors per month. In 2011, 1stdibs dealers reported over $500 million (£315 million) in sales.

SOURCE 1stdibs