Specialist

Bonhams•London, CA

19h

About The Position

The Specialist plays a pivotal role in the success and integrity of the auction house by combining subject-matter expertise with strategic business development, market insight, and transparent client service. This role exists to identify and secure high-quality consignments, provide trusted valuations, and contribute to the house’s reputation as a collaborative, data-informed, and ethically grounded institution. Acting as both a category expert and client advisor, the Specialist supports the entire auction lifecycle—ensuring accuracy, building trust, and driving growth through shared knowledge and cross-team engagement. Bonhams is seeking a knowledgeable and commercially minded Specialist to join our expert team. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in 20th & 21st Century Fine Art, a passion for client engagement, and a proactive approach to sourcing, research, and market analysis. This role blends scholarship and sales with a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and accurate data stewardship. You will be expected to work across departments, contribute to strategic planning, and uphold the highest standards in valuation and cataloguing, all while growing the house’s presence in the marketplace. This role will be based in London or in Germany and will be part of the global 20th and 21st Century Art team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Art History.
Between 3 and 5 years of proven experience in an auction house or commercial enterprise in the art world.
Proven experience of consigning and selling.
Proactive business getter with established client network.
Flexibility to travel internationally.
Ability to work both as a team and individually.
Excellent attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
Strong understanding and experience in the contemporary art market, provenance and authenticity research, condition reporting, valuation of artworks.

Nice To Haves

Fluent in German

Responsibilities

Valuations and pricing: Provide researched, evidence-based valuations and assessments of property, both in the office and at external venues, ensuring accuracy and transparency throughout the process.
Condition Reporting: Oversee the preparation of detailed and accurate condition reports for works consigned for sale, working closely with the more junior team and acting as a sounding board for them to rely on and learn from.
Scholarly Research: Contribute to the academic credibility of the department by preparing texts for publication in the sale catalogues.
Catalogue production: while not central to the role, the specialist position might be required to help with cataloguing, overseeing condition reporting, supervising research and helping with authentication of artworks consigned to the sales.
Consignment Support: Identify, secure, and manage property for sale through existing relationships and new client engagement, supported by effective proposal preparation.
Client Relationships: Maintain and grow relationships with clients by providing trusted advice, responsive communication, and proactive follow-up.
Proposal & Pitching: Collaborate with the senior team on proposals and pitches, preparing compelling and well-documented presentation materials for potential consignors.
Commercial Judgement: Apply a considered and commercially aware approach to all activities, ensuring that the needs of both the client and the company are balanced, clearly communicated, and effectively negotiated.
Market Insight: Monitor auction trends and market developments to inform pricing strategy and opportunity identification.
Data Stewardship: Record and maintain accurate object, client, and market data in internal systems to ensure transparency and continuity across the team.
Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to a collaborative working culture by sharing research, insights, and updates across the department and broader company.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with teams including specialists in other locations and different departments, marketing, finance and occasionally logistics and photography to support smooth and aligned sale operations.
Learning & Mentorship: Support the development of junior colleagues by offering guidance, feedback, and the sharing of best practices.
Compliance & Ethics: Uphold best practices in object due diligence, compliance, and ethical standards in all areas of departmental operation.