The auctioneers have appointed Harriet Clayton, a silver specialist who left Bonhams Knightsbridge after the merger with Phillips, and Edward Green, who used to work as a jewellery specialist for Asprey’s of New York and Garrards in London.
Lyon and Turnbull will look to Mr Green to source goods from outside Scotland – having influenced the decision of impressario Alfred Esdaile’s family to sell the contents of his London flat at the Edinburgh salerooms. Clayton and Green will organise regular sales of silver and jewellery in Edinburgh from September. The third appointment is ex-Christie’s Glasgow valuer Gavin Strang, who joins the Glasgow office.
Managing director Nick Curnow said the appointments were a recogition that Lyon and Turnbull had “not been well represented” in the field.
“Frankly you need the expertise to win business,” he said, adding that rivals Bonhams “had done very well with silver and jewellery” in Edinburgh – their sale on June 14 grossed £212,000. Bonhams said they were “not worried, just curious”, about the developments.
Gems for Lyon & Turnbull
UK: Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull are expanding their business with the creation of three new jobs, two of them in silver and jewellery.“We are bucking the trend by continuing with our expansion plans as other auction rooms in Scotland reduce their workforce and close offices,” said vice-chairman Paul Roberts.
