Christopher opened his fascinating talk by confessing he had always declined invitations to recount his stories as a Christies auctioneer.
Members were therefore privileged to hear about the rules of cataloguing including no verbs and no legs (only supports). As well as the custom of providing members of staff with a turkey for Christmas from the firm’s farm.
Musical boxes had appeared in furniture sales until 1975, when a sale of dolls and collectables included a crank wound Nicole Freres grand format on a carved rosewood table. It sold for £1500, a decent price at the time.