- Employment
- Internship
- Seniority
- Intern
- Compensation
- £26,936/year
- Department
- Heritage, Patrimony & Archives
- Posted
- Oct 29, 2026
About Christie's
Founded in London in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s is a leading international auction house whose heritage spans fine art, decorative arts, jewellery and exceptional collectibles. Through auctions, private sales and digital platforms, it connects collectors with remarkable objects and the expertise that brings their histories to life. As an employer, Christie’s offers career paths across specialist departments, client services, marketing, technology and operations within a global, culturally rich environment. Its work calls for intellectual curiosity, discretion and meticulous attention to detail, appealing to professionals who value scholarship, commercial acumen and the exacting standards of the international art and luxury markets.
Christie’s is hiring an Asian and World Art Intern for a one-year internship supporting the Chinese Art, Japanese Art, Classical Indian Art and Contemporary Indian Art Departments. The intern will contribute to research, cataloguing, sale preparation, administrative support and competitor sales monitoring.
Role & Responsibilities
- Support specialists with cataloguing and research, both at Christie’s and at external libraries and museums.
- Assist in the warehouse when required.
- Maintain departmental libraries and offices.
- Help distribute and bind catalogues.
- Assist with setting up and maintaining sale views.
- Take condition images as requested by clients.
- Assist with valuation preparation and research.
- Support the Sale Coordinator with the day-to-day running of the department.
- Maintain the department’s stationery and printing supplies.
- Assist specialists and the Sale Coordinator with catalogue preparation.
- Assist external clients with image copyright requests.
- Assist specialists and museum curators with exhibition loan requests.
- Liaise with the Photography and Image Editing teams to ensure property is photographed ahead of deadlines.
- Record competitors’ sale dates and check catalogues received before sales.
- Mark catalogues with prices realised and tally the results.
- Advise the Business Manager of results.
- Undertake other tasks as they arise.
Qualifications
- Degree in History of Art or another relevant subject.
- Previous paid or voluntary work experience within the art sector.
- Fluent English and one or two additional languages, especially European or Asian languages; Mandarin fluency is an advantage but is not essential.
- Self-motivated and highly organised.
- Ability to demonstrate client-facing experience.
- Strong IT skills and familiarity with all Microsoft packages.
Skills
Experience
Previous paid or voluntary work experience within the art sector.
Education
Degree in History of Art or another relevant subject.
Workplace
This position is based in London, England, UK.
Explore jobs in England or in the UK.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position is GBP 26,936 per annum.
Benefits
25 days’ annual leave plus one birthday leave day; Christie’s Christmas office closure from 25 December to 2 January in addition to annual leave; an additional week of annual leave in the year of each five-year anniversary; one volunteering day; donation matching up to £500 per annum; a £400 annual Flexible Fitness Fund expense allowance for health and wellness activities (taxable); access to gallery exhibitions and specialist-led tours; discretionary bonus dependent on business and employee performance, payable in March; pension contributions double-matched up to 5% of basic salary, with a maximum 10% contribution from Christie’s; private health insurance with no employee contribution and subsidised cover for family members; dental insurance, which may be extended at personal cost; income protection insurance; life insurance from the first day; Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling; annual eyecare vouchers; Cycle to Work scheme; Christie’s Extras discounts; 16 weeks’ full pay on maternity leave; a four-day week at full pay for eight weeks after returning from maternity leave; 10 sessions or days of dependent childcare or eldercare per year; and the Stork Club parent community.
Culture
Christie’s workplace culture centres on specialist expertise, intellectual curiosity and a shared appreciation for art and exceptional objects, with discretion and attentive client service shaping its professional environment. Its international auction business brings together specialists and colleagues across disciplines, combining a distinguished heritage with an evolving approach to digital engagement and the global art market.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Christie's, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Art Department Intern», «Asian Art Research Intern», «Art Specialist Intern», «Art Research Assistant Intern», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.