About Sotheby's
Sotheby’s is an auction house founded in London in 1744. Its specialists work across fine art and collecting categories including jewelry, watches, handbags, wine, design, and classic cars. The house connects collectors through live and online auctions, private sales, and fixed-price purchases. Its work spans specialist research and cataloging, client services, marketing, technology, finance, and operations, supporting the preparation, sale, and movement of objects across its international network.
Sotheby's seeks a Decorative Arts Valuer for its London Valuations department to provide evidence-based valuations across 15th–20th-century decorative arts, particularly British and Continental furniture, rugs and carpets, sculpture, and clocks. The temporary position has a 12-month commitment, with a view to extension, and involves extensive travel across the UK and Europe, client service, cataloguing, research, and support for sales and business development.
Role & Responsibilities
- Provide formal valuations for sale, insurance, taxation, family division, loan collateral, and estate planning, based on on-site visits or desktop updates.
- Locate, catalogue, and photograph items during on-site visits, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail.
- Submit accurate, detailed cataloguing promptly and efficiently, together with reliable, evidence-based estimates.
- Assist with valuations across the UK and Europe and travel extensively, occasionally at short notice.
- Provide thorough, excellent service to a wide range of clients and their professional advisers in line with corporate standards, representing Sotheby's through manner and appearance.
- Maintain the highest standards of discretion, integrity, and trustworthiness, while respecting complete client confidentiality.
- Work with valuation managers and production staff as part of a team, both on-site and in the office.
- Liaise and communicate clearly with Sotheby's specialist departments and external consultants, as appropriate, to verify cataloguing and values.
- Carry out office-based work, including provenance research, composing footnotes when appropriate, proofreading and correcting documents, and handling ad hoc general valuation enquiries.
- Understand and comply with industry-specific legal and compliance requirements, including those relating to ivory, CITES, and AML.
- Understand the risks inherent in valuation work and take responsibility and accountability for all submitted work.
- Maintain an accurate, up-to-date calendar.
- Support sales and business development when required.
- Manage expense claims promptly.
Qualifications
- Educated to graduate standard.
- Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or a related professional body is desirable.
- At least 5 years' experience valuing chattels at an international auction house, specialist valuation service, or related art business.
- Proven practical experience cataloguing and valuing British and Continental furniture, rugs and carpets, sculpture, and clocks.
- Knowledge of additional areas such as Modern Design, Asian, Indian and Islamic Decorative Arts, silver, and collectibles is advantageous.
- Awareness of the broader market at regional and international levels.
- Understanding of the UK taxation system in the context of chattels valuations, including IHT, CGT, the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, conditional exemption claims, rental negotiations, and retrospective valuations, is desirable.
- Full, clean driving licence.
- Good IT and photography skills, with basic Excel.
- Strong communication skills and an organised, methodical approach to work.
- Fluency in English; proficiency in another European language is advantageous.
- Self-motivated, able to work effectively alone using own initiative and as part of a larger team under direction.
- Flexible approach to working hours and willingness to travel domestically and internationally when required.
- Ability to work under pressure, coordinate a busy schedule, prioritise workload, and meet tight deadlines.
Skills
Experience
At least 5 years valuing chattels at an international auction house, specialist valuation service, or related art business.
Education
Educated to graduate standard.
Workplace
The successful candidate will be located in London, England, UK.
Explore jobs in England or in the UK.
Culture
Sotheby’s describes its culture in terms of client service, specialist knowledge, curiosity, collaboration, and ethical conduct. Its careers materials emphasize working across disciplines and encouraging employees to explore internal opportunities.
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.