Expert For Asian Art And Antiques
Kunsthaus Lempertz Auctioneers
Cologne, Germany
Expert in the Asian Art Department of Germany's leading auction house: evaluating works of art, their research and description in German and English for the catalogues, translation into English for all departments and management, the display for preview, all aspects of the auction and after sale care.Specialised in Chinese decorative art and Chinese stone carvings and lacquerware. For the June 10th 2008 auction I co-wrote the full special jade catalogue Chinese Jades of a Private Collection, directing all elements involved in its production.The whole auction house process is inspiring and exciting: organising expert days and representing Lempertz, advising clients on the current and past market value for their objects, their marketability and sale possibilities. Top administration skills and attention to the smallest detail are essential in organising the department and the hundreds of objects which enter and leave the house at a rapid rate, as well as general book-keeping and invoicing skills. Team communication wihin the department and the auction house as a whole is vital, and customer relations and communication skills are of primary importance; seeking new clients or the care of current customers, whether buyers or consignors, or the managment of the numerous general valuation enquiries received daily.Numerous elements need to be completed simultaneously in the run up to the auction, to name a few: the photography of lots and the design and lay-out of the catalogue, condition report requests, process of VISA invitations, auction protocol, organisation of temporary staff for previews, administration of bids, telephone bids during the auction. This continues after the sale with the completion and 'cleaning-up' of the auction, post auction displays and the assessment of the auction within the team, followed by customer liaising and invoicing.