Profile – Anna Evans of Christie’s
Anna Evans is a director at Christie’s and head of the European works of art department. As well as valuing a number of items, from chess sets to garden statuary, she is an auctioneer at the South Kensington saleroom.
What was the first antique you ever acquired?
I grew up five minutes from my local saleroom, Paskell and Cann in Colchester, and regularly attended their auctions with my grandparents. When I was 16 I purchased my first antique from them, a 19th-century giltwood convex mirror. I enjoyed it for years and it survived university life but sadly got broken in a house move several years ago.
Why, and when, did you start in the business?
After graduating with a History of Art degree I was drawn to the auction world and was lucky enough to get a job at Christie’s in 2002 in the bids office. It was a great place to learn about the different sales and departments before I moved into the works of art department a year later.
Who influenced you most when you started?
There is no one person I can pin point, the antiques industry is full of highly experienced people who I have always found to be hugely generous with their knowledge. This includes my colleagues, expert consultants and the many antique dealers I have met over the years.
What piece would you still most like to find?
One of the best things about my job is the surprise element, I never know what unusual item I might be shown from one day to the next. I don’t have one piece I would like to find, rather I get job satisfaction from the range of wonderful items I get to see and the stories attached to them.
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