LONDON.- Bonhams, the international fine art auction house, this week announced that it is taking new office space in one of the most prestigious parts of Dublin, 31 Molesworth Street.

This Georgian townhouse provides a suite of offices on two floors with direct access from the street (ground and 1st floor). Before the office opens officially later this year it will undergo refurbishment to bring it up to an `as new’ standard to provide the best possible space to display art to its best advantage.

The building provides 142.5sq metres and features a large ground floor office, a private meeting room for valuations, and first floor exhibition rooms. It maintains many of its original period features and is located in a handsome Georgian terrace in the heart of Dublin City centre in what has historically been a main thoroughfare for leading art galleries, antique shops and salerooms.

Bonhams agent in Ireland, Jane Beattie, comments: “It's absolutely gorgeous, we are very lucky to get it. It will provide a wonderful space in which to receive clients and exhibit works of art. We will be offering a range of valuation services as well as sourcing works of art for sale in London and beyond. As Bonhams now has a presence in 27 countries on five continents the Dublin office gives direct access to the world market for art and antiques. We regularly source items that are sent to our salerooms in London, Edinburgh, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Sydney.”

Bonhams have appointed Gayatri Juneja as a representative based in New Delhi where she will act as a liaison between Bonhams UK and India.

Gayatri was born and brought up in New Delhi and completed her education in Switzerland and the UK. She has an undergraduate degree in the History of Fine and Decorative Arts from the University College London in 2006 and also has a Masters in Art Business from the University of Manchester.

She has worked with a number of top London galleries and art advisors and in 2009 set up her own luxury goods business in India, the UK and North America.

Her background gives her an understanding of the luxury and art markets in the UK and her Indian upbringing will assist Bonhams networking in India.

Mehreen Rizvi, Bonhams Head of Modern and Contemporary South Asian and Islamic Art, says: “Gayatri's role is part of our renewed focus on South Asia, particularly India as we once again hold a Modern and Contemporary auction dedicated to the region exclusively in London this summer. It will help strengthen our ties to our existing clients and promote our sales to new collectors. To do this, local knowledge is vital and Gayatri will continue our longstanding commitment to the Indian market and build on our success in this field.”