Branches exist in Vienna in the Austrian states, the Czech capital of Prague, and the Italian cities of Milan and Rome, as well as in Düsseldorf, Munich and Brussels.

The firm's establishment as the Versatz- und Fragamt zu Wien was carried out by Emperor Joseph I in 1707.

[6][7][8][9] The Dorotheum chief expert, Dr. Hans Herbst,[10] was appointed by Hermann Voss, director of Hitler's planned Führermuseum, as an official buyer for the Nazis.

In 2001, the Dorotheum was sold to an Austrian consortium and since then has greatly expanded, including opening offices abroad in Germany, Belgium, Italy and the UK.

After public outcry and much discussion, the Dorotheum withdrew the paintings from sale and returned them, not to the consigners but to the "rightful owners".