We are seeking an ambitious, dependable, and highly organized professional to join our auction house team.
This is not an entry-level position. Applicants must have prior professional experience working with fine art, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, decorative arts, or similar property, preferably within an auction house, gallery, antiques business, estate-sale company, appraisal firm, or related industry. Candidates without relevant industry experience will not be considered.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong business ethics, an excellent work ethic, attention to detail, and the ability to efficiently research, evaluate, describe, organize, and prepare consigned property for auction in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Assist throughout the pre-auction process, including inventorying, researching, measuring, organizing, and preparing consigned property for sale.
- Research authenticity, attribution, provenance, bibliography, and exhibition history when applicable.
- Examine and prepare a wide range of property, including fine art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, decorative objects, carpets, lighting, and other auction merchandise.
- Prepare approximately 50-100 items per day
- Accurate property titles
- Detailed written descriptions
- Measurements and weights, when applicable
- Appropriate auction estimates
- Apply prior industry knowledge to identify property and recognize relevant artists, makers, designers, periods, materials, styles, and construction techniques.
- Assist the Auction Manager and other team members with presale proposals, valuations, pricing, and auction preparation.
- Pack, unpack, organize, move, and safely handle consigned property. Assist with unloading and unpacking boxes and bins of merchandise.
- Assist walk-in clients and respond professionally to consignor telephone inquiries.
- Participate in the preparation and uploading of auction listings.
- Help maintain accurate inventory records and ensure that property is properly identified and organized.
- Perform auction-day duties as assigned by the Auction Manager.
- Follow production schedules and meet all auction deadlines.
Required Experience and Qualifications
Applicants must have at least three years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Auction houses
- Fine-art or antiques galleries
- Jewelry, watch, or luxury-goods businesses
- Collectibles or decorative-arts businesses
- Estate-sale or appraisal companies
- Museums, archives, or similar organizations involving the identification, handling, research, or sale of property
General administrative, retail, warehouse, or customer-service experience alone does not satisfy this requirement. Candidates must have direct professional experience handling, researching, identifying, describing, evaluating, pricing, or selling fine art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, decorative arts, or comparable auction property.
Additional requirements include:
- Demonstrated knowledge of fine art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, decorative arts, or related property categories.
- Previous experience with object research, property descriptions, appraisals, valuations, auction preparation, or estate property.
- Ability to identify materials, styles, periods, makers, artists, and construction techniques within the candidate’s area of experience.
- Knowledge of email, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and general word-processing software.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills.
- Demonstrated ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and manage a high-volume workload.
- Exceptional attention to detail and strong follow-up skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team while also being self-directed.
- Ability to remain composed under pressure and meet frequent deadlines.
- Ability to regularly lift and safely handle items weighing 30 pounds or more.
Work Environment and Schedule
Work is performed primarily within an auction house and antiques center, with occasional work at off-site client locations.
Typical working hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Occasional extended weekday hours may be required.
Auctions are generally held once per week, typically on Tuesdays. Candidates must be available to work later hours on auction nights.
Application Requirements
Qualified candidates should submit:
- A current resume clearly detailing relevant auction, fine-art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, gallery, appraisal, estate-sale, or related industry experience
Applications that do not demonstrate relevant prior experience within the auction, fine-art, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, decorative-arts, or a closely related industry will not be considered.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $18.00 - $30.00 per hour
Experience:
- Cataloging: 2 years (Required)
- Auction House : 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
