As we are all safely ensconced in our homes, we thought that this would be a good moment for you to get to know the Lyon & Turnbull family a bit better. At the start of each week, we will be introducing to you a member of our fantastic team!
Heading up our London auctions of Select Jewellery & Watches, Charlotte Peel GG joined Lyon & Turnbull London’s Jewellery & Watches Department after a decade of experience in London salerooms including Christie’s South Kensington. Charlotte has a passion for historic jewellery, and a great interest in the histories of the great houses such as Cartier, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Looking forward to our Autumn sales, Charlotte has been working on our October edition of Select Jewellery & Watches taking place at the Mall Galleries in London as well as working alongside our Edinburgh team in the lead-up to our live online Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction.
"I’ve worked as a Jewellery specialist for over 10 years, and I still get so excited to see what a client is bringing in and to hear the stories behind the jewels. You never know what you might see any given day, whether it’s an early 19th century natural pearl necklace or a modern diamond pendant, and it is just such a privilege to be entrusted with people’s most treasured possessions.
Just before lockdown we moved out of London to a small village near Newbury. The garden already had a big vegetable patch and greenhouse, so I spent lockdown learning how to grow fruit and vegetables. There is little more satisfying than seeing your courgette and tomato plants flower and grow fruit from the tiny seed you planted, and to pick your own asparagus and raspberries to create delicious dinners and desserts."
Passionate about discovering the wonderful stories behind the pieces that are brought to us, our Junior Jewellery & Silver Specialist, Kier Mulholland has been working hard alongside Head of Department Ruth Davis on our Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction taking place live online on Tuesday 14th July. They have put together a fantastic display of the pieces included in our forthcoming auction at our Edinburgh saleroom which is available to view by appointment this week on weekdays from Monday 6th July to Monday 13th July.
Kier shares her favourite things about working at Lyon & Turnbull and the new renovation skills she has picked up during lockdown!
In 2015 I began an internship with Lyon & Turnbull which introduced me to a variety of sales including the exciting experience of witnessing the sale of the Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi sculpture, which achieved a staggering £386,500 incl premium.
Now, as a junior specialist working with the Jewellery, Watches & Silver sales as well as the annual Scottish Silver & Applied Arts sale allows a fantastic range of variety. Personally, I enjoy discovering the stories behind the objects, whether that be meeting a granddaughter with her inherited jewellery or figuring out the social etiquette of a 19th century Scottish provincial toddy ladle spoon.
At the beginning of lockdown, I moved into a 1930s house which required serious cosmetic work. I have stripped wallpaper and painted and demolished fitted wardrobes, all while the shops have been shut. My paintbrush skills may not be up the standards of Cadell or Peploe but I have surprised myself and enjoyed the transformation process!
Book your appointment to visit our Jewellery, Watches & Silver auction viewing and meet Kier!
Keep up to date with all of the latest Silver Department news in the newly launched Silver Department Instagram account @lyonandturnbullsilver!
Book Your Viewing Appointment ⇒
Working across our Whisky & Decorative Arts auctions, our dynamic Junior Specialist, Olivia Ross can often be found cataloguing and organising our Decorative Arts: Design since 1860 auctions alongside Head of Department, John Mackie. A distillery veteran, Olivia also curates our Whisky & Spirits auctions in Edinburgh with Consultant Specialist, Colin Fraser.
Olivia shares her passion for the Decorative Arts, Whisky experience and what she's been getting up to on the fairway during lockdown:
"After almost 4 years at Lyon & Turnbull, it remains a real privilege to work so closely with a huge variety of objects – from Wemyss to Whisky and everything in between! I am always fascinated by the maker, their craftsmanship and what inspired them to create. One of the first sales I worked on was Scottish Silver & Applied Arts and I was charmed by the simplicity of Wemyss ware. The vibrant designs and patterns, inspired by the wildlife surrounding Fife, remain popular amongst collectors around the world, and as auctioneers we are lucky enough to share the stories of Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.
Being a Speyside native, I previously worked as a distillery tour guide and was introduced to the wonderful world of whisky – though I am a big fan of the classic G&T, I also enjoy touring distilleries in my spare time and sampling a few drams along the way! I have also recently taken up golf and have spent much of lockdown trying to perfect my swing, some progress has been made but I’m still waiting for that hole in one!"
Have you ever contacted us for a valuation? Then you may have been in contact with our fabulous Valuations Manager, Tessa Stirling. Always full of energy and ready with a smile, Tessa is often working hard arranging valuation appointments and producing proposals. She is a key contact for our clients looking to discover more about their items and works of art. Enjoying engaging activity and new experiences, Tessa is a keen gourmand, taking 'research' trips around the globe to discover new cuisines that inspire her at home!
Tessa shares what she loves about cooking up valuations at Lyon & Turnbull:
“I have always enjoyed varied and stimulating roles and this continues at Lyon & Turnbull - managing the Valuations Department, no two days are the same! I love speaking with our clients and hearing the background stories to the items they would like us to look at and value. Although we have not been able to visit our clients in person during lockdown, they have embraced the virtual valuation services we have been offering online and by phone."
"I am lucky enough to live in the Scottish Borders, spending a lot of my spare time running or walking around the local hills with my Jack Russell, Barney. To balance this healthiness out – I spend lots of time cooking (which has meant many ‘research trips’ to Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Sardinia…) and baking for my very receptive colleagues. I'm looking forward to being back in the office – my baking books are gathering dust!"
Interested in learning more about our valuation services? Take a look at our virtual valuation options and get in touch with Tessa!
View our Virtual Valuation Guide
Leading the way in 20th Century Design & Studio Ceramics, Associate Director Philip Smith's perennial love of exploration of different cultures & aesthetics is what makes the auction world & working for Lyon & Turnbull so special to him.
Satisfying a deep wanderlust, Philip has been lucky enough to explore different environments & cultures around the globe, whether it be visiting Mountain Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, road tripping across America, Mountain Climbing on the Iberian Peninsula, manning a tall ship in the Baltic, swimming in glacial waters or cycling through the Jordanean desert.
"Within the auction world you are given special insight into people’s lives, told unique and fascinating stories, have the ability to uncover unknown histories and then on occasion have the opportunity to record them for posterity so the history does not vanish in the mist of time.
Working in the field of 20th Century Design and Modern British Art means a lot of the accounts you are told are first hand recollections of famous figures or important artists, and putting together sales in this field allows me to pose interesting questions and interpretations of the art that can start a conversation or partial re-interpretation of previous ideas. It is the most wonderful world to be a part of!"
If you are thinking of dropping into our London office on Tuesday or Thursdays, Philip will be delighted to meet you at our Connaught Street Gallery between the hours of 10:30am and 4pm as we reopen our London gallery to the public. Can't make it then? Private appointments will also be available at our Connaught Street Gallery on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Just get in touch at 0207 930 9115 or london@lyonandturnbull.com.
Learn more about our Modern Design Department
Find out about our Connaught Street Gallery
Always keen to unearth something new, whether it be in an antique tome or on a hiking trail, Cathy Marsden, our Rare Manuscripts & Books Specialist, is always on the look out for exciting discoveries. After studying German at university, Cathy picked up some Spanish whilst traveling and volunteering around Peru. Also able to speak French, Cathy's linguistic studies have proven to be extremely useful when cataloguing books from around the world & she dreams of one day finding a Gutenberg Bible!
A keen traveler, Cathy hiked the Kumano Kodo in Japan, a Shinto pilgrimage trail in the Spring of last year. Some of the toughest walking she's ever done was while exploring the Andes in Peru.
Cathy tells us about one her most exciting discoveries: "I’ve been with L&T for over 8 years now and still enjoy finding ‘undiscovered’ books on people’s shelves: one of the best things was a whole archive from the Scottish Antarctic Expedition. Nobody knew that they were there. The letters were incredible to read!"
Cathy is currently working on our forthcoming auction of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs.
Overseeing our Glasgow office, James McNaught, our Head of Glasgow and the West, is often diligently traveling across Scotland carrying out valuations and building professional contacts throughout Glasgow and the West of Scotland.
A very active member of the arts community in Glasgow, James is also an avid singer and began performing as a young voice with Scottish Opera. He currently sings first tenor with the illustrious Glasgow Phoenix Choir, which performs regularly in the Glasgow Concert Hall and other venues throughout Scotland. When not singing, James explores his interest in the Decorative Arts. In 2018, James led a trip around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife for the Decorative Arts Society focusing on Mackintosh and the Walton Family.
James tells us about his time at Lyon & Turnbull and what he's been working on during lockdown: "I love working for Lyon & Turnbull. I get to meet lots of very interesting people and learn about wonderful artists and works of art. No two days are the same! I really enjoy curating our exhibitions held in the Glasgow Gallery, most recently ‘The Chair’ and I’m working towards a small show on the ‘Glasgow Girls’ and their involvement in the suffrage movement. I’m currently writing my Masters Dissertation on the collector William McInnes (1868-1944) who bequeathed his collection of Post Impressionist and Scottish Colourist pictures to Kelvingrove - a welcome project for lockdown!"
Stop by our Glasgow Gallery on Bath Street for a valuation or exhibition once lock-down rules have lifted to meet James, our fantastic Glasgow team and (if you're lucky) James’s miniature schnauzer Rupert, a very welcome addition for our clients!
After achieving first class honours in Law at the University of Aberdeen, our Head of Operations and Legal, Laura Henderson, trained at a prestigious Scottish Private Client law firm before joining Lyon & Turnbull in 2014. The smooth transition to the world of antiques was natural for Laura. As well as being known for having a keen eye for a bargain, Laura’s dad is an artist - hence the draw to beautiful objects. In her spare time, Laura can be found trawling the charity shops of Morningside and Stockbridge picking up second-hand items which she likes to upcycle. Although Laura loves to travel abroad, her passion lies at home – she is obsessed with interior design. During Lockdown Laura has used the time to redecorate and of course, as an excuse for online shopping!
A regular globetrotter, Laura enjoys flying all over the world. Working at Lyon and Turnbull has taken Laura further afield than she could have ever imagined! In 2016, Laura travelled to Hong Kong with other members of the Lyon and Turnbull team to help successfully launch the company’s inaugural auction there which saw the top lot selling for over £3.6 million!
”It was an exciting sale in a destination like no other I had previously visited. I feel very lucky to work for a Scottish company that has such an international footprint. But more importantly, where to next?!”
As a member of the company’s charity committee, Laura takes part in organising fundraising events throughout the year. One such event is our fundraising auction for Masks for Scotland, an appeal to help raise funds for much needed PPE in Scotland to help tackle the outbreak of Covid-19. Along with her team, Laura is very grateful for the kind donations received and hopes that the auction will go a long way to helping.
Discover more about our 'For the Love of Scotland'
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You can often find our Junior Asian Art specialist, Tsai Yiing Ing industriously working to organise & catalogue our Edinburgh & London Asian Works of Art auctions alongside the Head of Department, Grace Tu. Full of welcoming energy, Tsai is always ready to share his knowledge & expertise of Asian Works of Art.
Tsai shares his wonderful story about his entrance into the art world with us:
'“Welcome!” Little did I know Susanna Goho-Quek also meant her greeting to be into the whimsical world of Art & Antiquities, as she welcomed me into the gallery. Susanna later became my business partner (more of a partner-in-crime in life) co-owning the now closed Chinese & Tibetan antique gallery in Kuala Lumpur, ‘House of Suzie Wong’. While providing me with the financial & spiritual support to finish my PhD in Chinese Literature, most importantly the gallery endowed me with an opportunity into the art world. In eternal gratefulness for my adventurous spirit to push the gallery door open, and Susanna's kind heart welcoming me in unlocked the door of my journey into the art world, which has continued into the auction world at Lyon and Turnbull.'
'I began interning with Lyon & Turnbull during the Autumn of 2019 & became immediately involved with the Edinburgh & London Asian Art sales. An interesting & exciting department, I was delighted to become a full time member of staff in December of 2019. Here I am now about to go through my fourth sale at Lyon and Turnbull, and still counting!'
Held behind closed doors, our live online auction of Asian & Islamic Works of Art saw great success with Eastern treasures, unearthed from a Scottish country house, achieving outstanding results with an exquisite £45,000 incl premium Qianlong Period Beijing Enamel Vase leading the sale.
View the Asian Art auction results
Our African & Oceanic Art and Antiquities specialist, Alex Tweedy, has always had a passion for traveling the world & discovering new places. Alex is pictured here, exploring the Southern Alps in New Zealand.
“At the start of my career, I was lucky enough to live and work in some extraordinary and challenging places in West & Central Africa for a number of years. Upon returning to the UK, I decided to study Archaeology because exploring the past is just another form of travel! It was then I began to discover the rich cultural heritage of the African continent and beyond – this is where my journey into the auction world began. Even years later, being able to study and handle these remarkable objects remains a great privilege.”
“Working with Lyon and Turnbull, to uncover exciting items from the past, some of which now reside in some of the leading institutions in the world, is an absolute pleasure!”
Alex’s last auction of African & Oceanic Art, Antiquities and Natural History took place live online on Tuesday 5th May, lead by a hammered bronze Apulo-Corinthian Helmet, which achieved an excellent result of £18,750 incl remium.
Video | Specialist Spotlight | Alex Tweedy
Our Associate Development Director, Deborah Bennett dedicates her time to building relationships around the U.K., promoting the beautiful works of art in our sales, showcasing our specialists' talents & raising awareness for a wide range of fantastic philanthropic causes.
A dynamic individual, full of energy, it won't come as a surprise to anyone that knows her, that after having her first flying lesson when visiting the Goodwood Airfield while she was working at Estee Lauder, Deborah was immediately hooked and went on to gain her private pilot's license!
Deborah shared the story of how her love of flying began and how she became a pilot:
"I was working at Estee Lauder and often stayed the weekend with friends near Goodwood in Sussex.
My Father had been a Spitfire pilot in World War 2 and one day we went to Goodwood Airfield-a wartime airfield restored by the Duke of Richmond and I had a flying lesson. I was immediately hooked and started to fly most weekends to gain my private pilot’s license. It was rather a long haul as I spent a great deal of time in America training for a new job to launch a scientific brand called Prescriptives.
It really was the most difficult challenge I have ever had and it taught me much about discipline and perseverance. Being in the air also put everything into perspective and was a totally surreal experience and I will never forget the feeling when my instructor sent me off on my first solo!"
When discussing her love and appreciation of art that also stemmed from her time at Estee Lauder, Deborah describes how the exposure to contemporary American Art at Estee Lauder was the start.
"It led me, at a later date, to serve on several stewardship committees with The Courtauld Institute of Art and developed my passion for The Impressionist painters. My time as Chairman of the Hunterian Friends developed my appreciation of Scottish art together with my relationship with Glasgow School of Art."
"Lyon & Turnbull is an amazing company with a true feeling for the development of the individual member of staff and the current situation has highlighted the familial feeling of the company."
Join us at one of our events when we are able to reopen to the public to meet Deborah our Aviation Ace in person!
We are kicking things off with a man who probably doesn't need an introduction... Lyon & Turnbull Legend, Sydney Drew. Currently safely at home, Sydney aka ‘Syd’ is often the first smiling face many of our visitors to Broughton Place encounter. A golf champion, melophile, art-lover, petrol-head and avid tennis player, Sydney is often our go to model for Photo Ops with the International Press. An avid car lover, Sydney has a particular passion for Mini-Coopers!
We asked Sydney to describe his experiences at Lyon & Turnbull & he responded in a way that only Sydney could:
Stop by Broughton Place in Edinburgh when the saleroom reopens to the public to meet Sydney the Legend in person.