Van Ham Fine Art Auctions was founded in 1959 by Europe's first female auctioneer, Carola van Ham, in Cologne, the fourth-largest city in Germany and a major cultural hub. Today, Van Ham remains a family-run business best known for its modern and contemporary art auctions. On average, the international auction house holds 16 sales each year in a variety of categories, including European applied arts, photography and jewelry. Van Ham provides ample opportunities for online buyers, offering 17 auctions online on Invaluable.com for carpets and tapestries; Asian, contemporary and modern art; jewelry and watches; and more.