2019 SPRESMAG

MAKE A
CHRISTIE’S
CONNECTION
WRITTEN BY BROOKE PERRY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTIE’S LTD. 2018
As the world’s oldest auction house, Christie’s has
long captivated collectors of fine art, antique
furnishings, bespoke jewels and rare wines. And
while it would be easy to consider this rarified
world off-limits to casual browsing, Colin Kemp
says otherwise. He’s been at the door of Christie’s
in London for nearly 20 years, offering a warm
welcome (and free coffee) to all who make their way to the firm’s
stately global headquarters in St. James’s.
Christie’s could hardly find a better ambassador than Kemp,
who was named “Doorman of the Year” in the Mayfair & St
James’s 2019 Community Awards. “I spend the whole day outside
welcoming people. The only time I’m inside is when furniture or art
works are being delivered. I always encourage people to come in,
look around and enjoy themselves,” he said in a recent interview.
Christie’s is open to all during its regular business hours, Monday
through Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In addition, the auction house
recently introduced Christie’s Lates, a monthly series of free, afterhours
evening events that combine specialist talks and a sneak
peek at upcoming auctions with a chance to mingle with art lovers
and aspiring collectors over food and drinks.
James Christie’s eponymous firm was established in London
in 1766, though historical records suggest his first auctions date
back even earlier, to 1759. After a short stint in the Royal Navy,
the young Scotsman took up auctioneering, quickly earning a
reputation as a charming and charismatic connoisseur of both the
Old Masters and emerging artists.
Now well into its third century, Christie’s survives and thrives,
offering more than 350 auctions each year overseen by experts
in more than 80 categories ranging from watches and wine to
design and decorative arts. Christie’s affiliates include Christie’s
International Real Estate, a network of 138 top international real
estate brokerages which includes Special Properties.
If you’re traveling to London, make note of these upcoming
auctions.
9 April | British & Irish Art
10 April | Interiors
29 April | Orientalist Art
2 May | Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds
14 May | Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
22 May | The Collector: English Furniture,
Clocks & Works of Art
23 May | The Collector: European Furniture,
Works of Art & Ceramics
23 May | The Collector: Silver & 19th-Century Furniture,
Sculpture & Works of Art
24 May | Science and Natural History
Christie’s London – King Street interior.
Rudolf Ernst’s Two Warriors
in the Alhambra Palace
(Orientalist Auction)
Above: Sam
Francis’ Untitled
(First Open
Sale Online);
Left: Adolphe
Joseph Thomas
Monticelli’s A
Young Family
Under Trees on
a Hill (European
Art Auction)
Clive Barker’s
Mickey Mouse
(Modern
British Art).
WWW.SPECIALPROPERTIESRES.COM 25