NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle is pleased to announce that Chris Barber has joined the firm as a Vice President and Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts.
This addition to Doyle’s team of Specialists not only expands the firm’s expertise in Americana, but also highlights Doyle’s deep roots in Boston, the birthplace of founder Bill Doyle. A longtime Bostonian, Mr. Barber is based in Boston and will travel regularly to New York and other areas of the country. He will also work closely with Doyle’s New England Regional Advisor Kathryn Craig serving collectors, families and fiduciaries throughout the Northeast.
Since 2004, Mr. Barber has worked in the American Furniture and Decorative Arts Department at Skinner, Inc. in Boston, first as Cataloguer and Specialist and, since 2012, as Deputy Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts. He was also Director of The Gentlemen’s Sale, a semi-annual auction curated for private buyers. Prior to joining Skinner, he was a Cataloguer and Department Administrator of American Paintings at Christie’s in New York.
Mr. Barber earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University. For ten seasons, he has been a featured appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, a WGBH production televised on the PBS network.
Mr. Barber’s first auction at Doyle will be the sale of American Paintings, Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts on Wednesday, May 4. Highlighting the auction is property from The Christine Biddle Wainwright Collection. Early settlers of Philadelphia, the prosperous Biddle family played influential roles in commerce, politics and society. Highlights of the Collection include a circa 1775 Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany dressing table, an 1839 portrait of Commodore James Biddle by Thomas Sully and a pair of 1832 silver vases of historic importance by Philadelphia silversmiths Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner.
Mr. Barber joins Doyle at a time of growth in the Americana market as new collectors and influential designers compete for traditional furniture and decorations from our nation’s past. Fueled by a new-found appreciation for quality and craftsmanship, this buoyancy in the Americana market is providing exciting opportunities for both buyers and sellers.
We Invite You to Auction!
We invite you to contact Chris Barber. He is available by telephone, email and video chat to discuss the appraisal and sale of a single object or an entire collection.
Chris Barber
Vice President / Director, American Furniture & Decorative Arts
917-543-3967
American@Doyle.com