Meet The Specialist
Charlie Thomas
What is your current position at Bonhams?
I am Director of House Sales and Private Collections at Bonhams. My role is split between pitching for collections for sale and working on the collections we have been entrusted to sell, which involves everything from cataloguing and researching the property to auctioneering and everything in-between! Our next auction is The Dunrobin Attic Sale, taking place on 20 April in Edinburgh.
Lot 1. W. Cheesman (British, early 20th Century), A French Bulldog, Millicent (The Duchess of Sutherland's first pet dog in the 1890s), £1,000 - 1,500.
Lot 1. W. Cheesman (British, early 20th Century), A French Bulldog, Millicent (The Duchess of Sutherland's first pet dog in the 1890s), £1,000 - 1,500.
Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the auction world?
I was brought up between London and the New Forest, with regular spells in New Zealand (my mother is a Kiwi). I love history and working at an auction house is the closest you can get to it (tangibly speaking).
Lot 137. Scotland - Surveying and Geology, Illustrated manuscript survey of the North coast of Scotland undertaken by Captain Henry Charles Otter, R.N., in 1844, £1,500 - 2,500.
Lot 137. Scotland - Surveying and Geology, Illustrated manuscript survey of the North coast of Scotland undertaken by Captain Henry Charles Otter, R.N., in 1844, £1,500 - 2,500.
What was your first job?
I studied Fine Art valuation at university and then went on to work as a porter at Bonhams Guildford. I learnt more from Andrew Hawkins, who managed the Guildford office at the time, in six months than I did in my three years at university...
Lot 54. Elizabeth Sutherland Leveson-Dower, Duchess of Sutherland (British, 1765-1839), Panoramic view of the Old Town Edinburgh and Castle, £700 - 1,000.
Lot 54. Elizabeth Sutherland Leveson-Dower, Duchess of Sutherland (British, 1765-1839), Panoramic view of the Old Town Edinburgh and Castle, £700 - 1,000.
Name one of your triumphs.
I've worked on so many memorable house sales, each one fascinating in its own very different way, that it's really tough to choose. The St Lucian Property of Lord Glenconner was a massive challenge, but the outcome was worth it. The Count and Countess of Martignone Collection had all the right ingredients - an incredible romantic story, two beautiful properties on the Italian Riviera and in Milan and the most wonderful vendor to work with in creating a stunning sale with an incredible result. Nicky Haslam's Hunting Lodge was also very special - possibly the most beautiful house anywhere, lived in by John Fowler and then Nicky; it ticked a lot of boxes!
Lot 143. A 115-Piece Copeland Gilt Porcelain Part Dinner Service, £600 - 800.
Lot 143. A 115-Piece Copeland Gilt Porcelain Part Dinner Service, £600 - 800.
What has changed in your area of the business since you first started?
So much! When I started taking auctions, we had two porters who would shout "SHOWING HERE SIR" every time a new lot was announced. There was no online bidding, so your options to bid were turn up, book a phone line, or leave an absentee bid. Now you can bid digitally, via the website and our new app, it means you can participate from anywhere in the world.
Lot 100. Philippa Crabtree (British, born 1764), A Group of nine botanical studies; Melittis Melissophyllum with Viola (Mint with Violet), £4,000 - 6,000.
Lot 100. Philippa Crabtree (British, born 1764), A Group of nine botanical studies; Melittis Melissophyllum with Viola (Mint with Violet), £4,000 - 6,000.
What is your strength as a specialist?
I'm a people person. I very much enjoy interacting with our clients, learning all about them and helping them achieve the best possible outcome. I think that comes across.
Lot 415. A Large White Marble Bust of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 4th Duke of Sutherland (1851-1913), by Charlotte Besnard nee Dubray (French, 1854-1931), £2,000 - 3,000.
Lot 415. A Large White Marble Bust of Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower 4th Duke of Sutherland (1851-1913), by Charlotte Besnard nee Dubray (French, 1854-1931), £2,000 - 3,000.
What's exciting about your next sale?
In April, we are holding the Dunrobin Attic Sale in Edinburgh which provides a glorious opportunity to purchase a piece of history from one of Scotland's grandest and most historic castles. Many of the items have been hidden away in Dunrobin Castle for generations and have never been seen on the open market before. They provide a wonderful snapshot of what it was like to live both upstairs - and downstairs - in the Highland's premier ducal palace.
Lot 106. Jan Anthonisz. Van Ravesteyn (Dutch, circa 1570-1657), Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as Augustus II, Herzog zu Braunschweig-Lűneburg (1579-1666), £8,000 - 12,000.
Lot 106. Jan Anthonisz. Van Ravesteyn (Dutch, circa 1570-1657), Portrait of a gentleman, traditionally identified as Augustus II, Herzog zu Braunschweig-Lűneburg (1579-1666), £8,000 - 12,000.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I'm good with horses!
Lot 306. A Victorian Shaped Rectangular SIlver Deskstand, by George Angell, London 1876, £1,200 - 1,800.
Lot 306. A Victorian Shaped Rectangular SIlver Deskstand, by George Angell, London 1876, £1,200 - 1,800.
Which object has changed your life?
It wasn't so much an object, but a sale. In 2007 I spent most of the year cataloguing and selling the contents of the Savoy. It was this sale that made me realise I wanted to work in Private Collections and House sales - it took another seven years to fulfil that ambition.
Lot 385. A Large 19th Century Mahogany and Glazed Double Sided Display Case Enclosing a Collection of Grand Tour Plaster Medallions, by Pietro Paoletti (Rome, 1801-1847), £2,000 - 3,000.
Lot 385. A Large 19th Century Mahogany and Glazed Double Sided Display Case Enclosing a Collection of Grand Tour Plaster Medallions, by Pietro Paoletti (Rome, 1801-1847), £2,000 - 3,000.
Charlie Thomas is Director of House Sales and Private Collections. He can be reached at charlie.thomas@bonhams.com
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