The Collector WIP

  • Event date 4 - 20 April
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The inaugural international edition of The Collector achieved a combined total of £5,975,485 / $7,427,529 / €6,800,103. This international platform for connoisseurs and collectors of decorative arts, offered in tandem for the first time across our London, New York, and Paris sale sites. The Collector sale series includes important European, English and 19th-century furniture, porcelain, silver, gold boxes and works of art dating from the 16th to 20th centuries.

This inaugural series was conceived in collaboration with internationally renowned designers and co-authors of At The Artisan’s Table, Jane Schulak and David Stark. Skilfully combining a deep knowledge and appreciation of the decorative arts with a talent for creating whimsical, theatrical spaces, Jane and David have curated striking vignettes for each sale location which challenge perceptions and give free rein to the imagination.

In London, a George II Secretaire Cabinet doubled its estimate, selling for £151,200. New York achieved an astounding $138,600 for a magnificent pair of Mintons pate-sur-pate vases. Finally, the Paris edition was highlighted by the sale of an exceptional Louis XVI period secretaire by Jean-Henri Riesener, which made 123% of its low estimate.

The Collector

Meet the tastemakers

The Collector

Jane Schulak and David Stark

Designer Jane Schulak is the founder and creative director of non-profit Culture Lab Detroit. She has served on the boards of the University of Michigan School of Architecture, Cranbrook Art Academy and Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. She lives in Detroit.

David Stark, president and chief creative officer of David Stark Design and Production, is an acclaimed event producer, designer, and author. His books include David Stark: The Art of the Party, and his work features in numerous publications. His clients include celebrities, major corporations, and museums, and he has appeared as a party planning expert on such programs as Today and The View. He lives in Brooklyn.

In their recently published book At the Artisan’s Table Jane Schulak and David Stark present stunning contemporary tabletop designs inspired by historical decorative objects from the world’s great museums paired with pieces by an international array of contemporary artisans who reinterpret traditional crafts and styles’ (Vendome Press).

Benjamin Berry headshot

Benjamin Berry

Head of Sale, Junior Specialist

European Furniture & Works of Art

Benjamin joined Christie’s Decorative Arts department as a Cataloguer in 2021 and has worked on the biannual Collector sales as well as contributing to the phenomenal success of the sale of the collection of Hubert de Givenchy in June 2022 and the London Exceptional Sale in July 2022. Enthused by history and research, Benjamin works primarily with the English, European, and 19th Century Furniture and Works of Art departments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Classics and German from Oxford University and prior to joining Christie’s worked with museums and auction houses in the UK and Germany.
Allison Cox headshot

Allison Cox

Head of Sale, Junior Specialist

English Furniture & Works of Art

Allison Cox is a junior specialist in English Furniture and Decorative Arts in New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in History from the Johns Hopkins University where she concentrated on social and cultural histories, as well as material culture studies. She received her master’s degree with distinction in Museum & Artifact Studies from Durham University in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining Christie’s, she was with another international auction house in New York. She is also a member of the Furniture History Society and the Georgian Group.
Elisa Ober headshot

Elisa Ober

Head of Sale – Cataloguer

European Furniture & Works of Art

Elisa Ober joined Christie’s in 2016 after obtaining a Masters 2 in History of Art at the Sorbonne and is a passionate lover of the Decorative Arts with a particular focus on French 18th century seat furniture. As a coordinator for Classic Art, Elisa contributed to the success of several prestigious collection sales including those of Alberto Pinto in 2017 and Juan de Beistegui in 2018. In 2022 she became a cataloguer in the Furniture and Works of Art department and contributed to the phenomenal success of the sale of the collection of Hubert de Givenchy in June 2022. In 2023 Elisa was appointed head of the biannual sale The Collector: Le Goût Français. -- Passionnée par les arts décoratifs et tout particulièrement par la menuiserie en siège du XVIIIe siècle français, Elisa Ober rejoint Christie’s en 2016, après avoir obtenu un Master 2 en Histoire de l’Art à la Sorbonne. En tant que coordinatrice des départements d'art classique, Elisa participe notamment au succès de prestigieuses ventes de collections : Alberto Pinto en 2017, et Juan de Beistegui en 2018. Elle devient en 2022 catalogueuse au département Mobilier et Objets d’art, et contribue à l'exceptionnelle réussite de la vente de la collection Hubert de Givenchy en juin 2022. En 2023, Elisa prend la direction de la vente biannuelle The Collector : Le Goût Français.
The Collector, selection of polaroids

The inspiration behind The Collector’s vibrant vignettes

The Collector tastemakers Jane Schulak and David Stark take us behind the scenes of this season’s international sale series

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