Department changes announced by Christie’s are three-fold.
There will be no more wine sales at South Kensington as the department moves to the firm’s headquarters at King Street and focuses upon selling higher value lots.
Equally their two UK book departments will now be merged in one specialised team based at SW1. Although Christie’s will continue to sell books and manuscripts at both sales sites, Crispin Jackson, head of the book department at CSK for four years, is leaving the firm.
The modern and sporting gun department will close altogether in the first quarter of 2009.
Christie’s told ATG the changes are part of an ongoing strategic review that has seen the demise of South Kensington sales of toys, maritime models, mechanical music and sporting memorabilia.
They also released a separate statement saying: “We are in the process of reviewing our plans in light of the current global economic environment and our sale results for this autumn. We do anticipate a reorganisation to be announced sometime in January.”
Bonhams and Sotheby’s – whose most recent earnings release talked of a “global cost cutting initiative” – are both expected to join Christie’s in announcing department changes in the new year.
Statements are expected shortly.
