Early European Sculpture & Works of Art

Contact

• London

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    Amjad Rauf

    International Head of Masterpiece and Private Sales

    Amjad Rauf

    International Head of Masterpiece and Private Sales

    arauf@christies.com+44 (0) 20 7389 2358

    As International Head, Masterpiece and Private Sales, and Head of the London annual Exceptional Sale, Amjad Rauf’s main focus is Decorative Arts Masterpieces, notably for sales in London, Paris and New York. Based in London, Amjad works closely with his Decorative Arts colleagues globally, as well as other Christie’s representatives, collaborating with them on matters of client relations, sourcing, valuations, curating and expertise. Responsible for Decorative Arts Private sales since 2014, Amjad staged the exhibition “Empire, curated by Hubert de Givenchy” in 2014, and “Expanding Horizons”, in 2021, focusing on the relation between Asian Contemporary Art and Classical Decorative Arts. One of the most international members of Christie’s Decorative Arts team, Amjad is fluent in English, Dutch, German and French. He joined the department in London in 1995, and has since, in various capacities, worked on the sales of European Decorative Arts as well as key European and US Collections, such as the sale of the late Dr Anton Dreesmann in 2002 (£22,4 Million); The Champalimaud and Wildenstein Collections in 2005 (£39 Million and £21,9 Million), Taste of the Royal Court in 2016 (£ 6,7 Million) and the Eric Albada Jelgersma Collection in 2018 (£ 22 Million). A highly memorable moment in his career was the sale of the Badminton cabinet in 2004 (£19 Million), the most expensive piece of furniture ever sold at auction.

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    Scarlett Walsh

    Associate Specialist

    Scarlett Walsh

    Associate Specialist

    SWalsh@christies.com+44 207 389 2333

    Scarlett Walsh joined Christie’s in 2018 as a Global Graduate Trainee based in London. The programme saw her work across six departments ranging from Old Master Paintings to Books & Manuscripts to Post-War & Contemporary Art. She joined the Early European Sculpture Department as a Junior Specialist in the Spring of 2020.
    
    Scarlett graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in History of Art, followed by a Master’s degree from The Courtauld Institute of Art where she specialised in the visual culture of medieval Italy, with a particular focus on Sienese artists.

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    Thais Hitchins

    Junior Specialist

    Thais Hitchins

    Junior Specialist

    thitchins@christies.com+44 (0) 7771380779

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    Eleonora Pontiggia

    Sales Coordinator, Classic Art Group

    Eleonora Pontiggia

    Sales Coordinator, Classic Art Group

    epontiggia@christies.com+44 (20) 73892049

    Eleonora Pontiggia is a Sales Coordinator for the Classic Art Group, based in London. Eleonora joined Christie’s in 2020 in the Old Master Paintings department before moving on to work with the Estates, Appraisal & Valuations team as a Valuation Coordinator. In 2024 she joined the Classic Art Group as Sales Coordinator working primarily with the Antiquities and Ceramics departments. Eleonora holds a Master Degree in Art History and Art World Practice from Christie’s Education with a particular focus on English and European Decorative Arts.

• New York

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    Will Russell

    Specialist Head of Department

    Will Russell

    Specialist Head of Department

    WRussell@christies.com+1 212 636 2525

    For almost 20 years, Will Russell has worked in the Decorative Arts and Sculpture Departments at Christie's. He joined Christie’s in 2000, just in time for the spectacular sale of French decorative arts from the Riahi Collection that realized $40 million, the highest total for a single-owner sale of French furniture at auction. Two years later, Will organized the Malmaison Sale of Roger Prigent's iconic collection of decorative arts from the 18th through 20th centuries. Since 2005, Will has been responsible for sculpture and works of arts - objects ranging in date from the 12th through early 19th centuries - for North, Central and South America.
    
    Will works closely with his London and Paris Sculpture Department colleagues and, together, they have sold some of the most important sculpture ever to come to auction or private sale. In 2015, Will organized the sale of the Abbott-Guggenheim collection which totaled $14 million and remains the largest sculpture collection sold at auction. In 2014, Christie’s, New York, sold the Rijksmuseum the Bacchic Figure by Adrien de Vries which, at $27 million, remains the world record price for a piece of European Sculpture at auction. Will, drawing on his years spent in the curatorial departments of 3 major museums, has also worked closely with almost every important United States museum on their de-accessioned sculpture and works of art including the Harvard University Art Museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Louisville’s Speed Museum, the Toledo and Columbus Museums of Art, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, among many others.
    
    A graduate of Connecticut College, Will received his M.A. degree in 1991 after graduate work at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts and Princeton University. This was followed by fellowships in the Sculpture and Decorative Arts Departments at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. From 1996-2000, Will was the curator of the most important private collection in the Czech Republic, the Lobkowicz Collections, at Prague Castle and Nelahozeves Castle.

• Paris

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    Alexandre Mordret-Isambert

    Specialist

    Alexandre Mordret-Isambert

    Specialist

    amordret@christies.com+33 (0)1 40 76 72 63

    Alexandre Mordret-Isambert joined Christie's Paris in 2021 as an associate specialist in early European sculpture (medieval, Renaissance, baroque, neoclassical and 19th century). Alexandre is a graduate of the Université Panthéon-Assas, the École Pratique des Hautes Études-Sorbonne and the École du Louvre. After several years of experience in institutions such as the Louvre, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris and the French Mobilier National, Alexandre began working for international auction houses. Subsequently, he worked as a specialist for an expertise company dealing in sculpture and art objects from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
    
    Alexandre is still a teacher in Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the École du Louvre. Alexandre also assists a number of important international collectors in building their collections.

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    Hippolyte de la Féronnière

    Head of European Furniture Department

    Hippolyte de la Féronnière

    Head of European Furniture Department

    hdelaferonniere@christies.com+33 (0)1 40 76 85 73

    After studies in law and history of art, Hippolyte de la Féronnière became head of sales in European Furniture and Works of Art at Drouot. On the strength of his seven years of experience in the art market he joined the Furniture department at Christies Paris in 2012.
    
    Within the department, he has contributed to the sales of several exceptional collections, including that of Hélène Rochas (2012), Jean Louis Rémilleux at the Château de Digoine (2015), Boniface de Castellane - Anna Gould (2017), Alberto Pinto (2017) and the collection Juan de Beistegui (2018). His knowledge and expertise led to the discovery of a rare 18th century mirror in golden bronze whose value was previously unrecognised. After realising necessary research, Féronnière coordinated its sale at Christies, attaining 350 000 € for the owners. A further important discovery includes a desk of Jean-Henri Riesener from a French private collection, commissioned by the royal furniture store and acquired by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. This piece of furniture will be reinstalled in its original place at Concorde in Paris.