EDINBURGH.- Lyon & Turnbull is welcoming three new specialists from the fields of Decorative Arts, Watches and European Ceramics & Glass. They include former Christies specialist Joy McCall who will strengthen the firms internationally-renowned decorative arts department and head a new series of biannual sales devoted to Lalique. Sarah Fergusson, a female specialist in a traditionally male niche, joins as Head of Watches while Katherine Wright, formerly of Bonhams in London and Edinburgh, will provided here expertise as a European Ceramics & Glass Specialist.
JOY MCCALL - SENIOR SPECIALIST IN DECORATIVE ARTS: DESIGN SINCE 1860 AND LEADING NEW LALIQUE SALE IN 2021
Joy McCall is a Senior Specialist in Decorative Arts & Design from 1860 to the present day. She became part of the Lyon & Turnbull team in 2020.
After graduating from the University of Sussex with a Masters in British Art History and Critical Theory, Joy joined Bonhams Auctioneers, in London, where she was a specialist in Decorative Arts & Design. Following a move to Christies, she was appointed Head of the Decorative Art & Design Department, London, in 2008. She remained there for over 16 years establishing an international reputation for her expertise in Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Lalique. She has obtained many world records in the field including one for the highest selling Scottish work of art at auction with Margaret MacDonald Mackintoshs gesso panel The White Rose and The Red Rose that realised £1.7m in 2008.
Joy has contributed to a number of publications including Mid-Century Modern Complete, ed. Dominic Bradbury, as well as Millers Buyers Guide to Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Buyers Guide to Glass and Millers Glass Fact File A-Z.
New dedicated Lalique auctions in 2021
Lyon & Turnbull will be launching biannual Lalique auctions starting in Spring 2021. These specialist sales will celebrate the work of the master glass-maker Rene Lalique, who after a career as highly acclaimed Art Nouveau jeweller turned his creative energy to glass. His designs are recognised for their outstanding technical and artistic merit, as well as for their abundant variety. He is the father of the commercial scent bottle after he worked alongside the perfumer, Francois Coty, to create specific bottles for fragrances. He was also an artist creating unique pieces using the lost wax or cire perdue technique a method more commonly associated with bronze casting.
The auctions will provide an opportunity both to sell and to buy pieces by Lalique, a brand synonymous with luxury and quality. Sales will include vases, bowls, table wares, car mascots, paperweights, lighting, mirrors, jewellery, scent bottles, boxes, furniture, and much more.
SARAH FERGUSSON - HEAD OF WATCHES AND LEADING NEW DEDICATED WATCHES AUCTIONS
Sarah Fergusson is Head of Watches, she also specialises in jewellery and coins. She has a passion for vintage timepieces, in particular mid-20th century chronograph wrist watches.
Sarah completed her MA Hons, MLitt and MSc all at the University of Glasgow, all with a focus on jewellery. Later she studied gemmology at the Gemmological Institute of Great Britain. Her continued academic interests led her to speak at the Recycling Luxury Conference at Christies Education in London in 2019. Her paper, The Virtue of Auction Houses, will feature in the journal Luxury, published in October 2020.
Sarah joined us in autumn of 2020 with a decade of auction and market experience. In line with the exponential growth in the pre-owned watches market, in her previous role, Sarah spent several years focussing solely on watches, finding for sale several rare vintage Rolex pieces and setting several auction records. Sarah is also an accomplished auctioneer, having added this skill to her repertoire in 2016.
She will be working towards a series of auctions in Edinburgh, London and Live Online. As a specialist she is based in Glasgow but travels nationwide for free valuations and current market advice. We will also be hosting specialist Watch Valuations Days in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.
KATHERINE WRIGHT - EUROPEAN CERAMICS & GLASS SPECIALIST
Katherine Wright is an accomplished auctioneer and specialist valuer with many years experience.
From an early age Katherine was inspired by the world of art and antiques and always wanted to make a career in this field. Katherine studied History of Art at the University of St Andrews, with a particular interest in architecture and furniture design. She went on to complete a Masters at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, focusing on 19th century British and French painting.
Katherine joins the Lyon & Turnbull team after over 15 years with Bonhams auctioneers in both London and Edinburgh, where she progressed to become Head of Ceramics & Glass. With a main specialist focus on British, Scottish, Continental and Decorative Arts ceramics and glass Katherine also developed a breadth of experience working as cataloguer and valuer in the Furniture & Works of Art, Silver & Jewellery and Decorative Arts departments.
Katherine takes great pleasure in her work as it is endlessly interesting and there are always new things to see and learn. She has enjoyed meeting the wide variety of people that her job brings her into contact with, from charity shop treasure hunters, to museum professionals and private collectors with incredible knowledge and passion. She has been the auctioneer at numerous high profile charity events, and has presented antiques talks and quizzes for various organisations.
Katherine will be providing cover for Lyon & Turnbull specialist, and star of the BBC Antiques Roadshow, Theodora Burrell whilst she is on maternity leave.