Christopher Payne

Christopher Payne is the son of a Leicestershire antique dealer, brought up with a background in traditional English furniture. The family business, started by his grandfather in 1901, made and restored furniture, and Christopher spent as much time as he could in the workshops. After university, he joined Sotheby's as a porter, subsequently becoming the director and auctioneer responsible for furniture and decorative arts from 1830 to 1930. His twenty-five-year career at Sotheby's gave him an...See more

Christopher Payne is the son of a Leicestershire antique dealer, brought up with a background in traditional English furniture. The family business, started by his grandfather in 1901, made and restored furniture, and Christopher spent as much time as he could in the workshops. After university, he joined Sotheby's as a porter, subsequently becoming the director and auctioneer responsible for furniture and decorative arts from 1830 to 1930. His twenty-five-year career at Sotheby's gave him an unprecedented grounding in what was, at the time, the largely uncharted territory of later European furniture, and he has become one of the world's leading experts in this field. Travelling and lecturing worldwide, including China, Christopher has acted as a freelance consultant to private clients since 1994 and continues to appear on the BBC's 'Antiques Roadshow'. His published work includes 'Francois Linke 1855 - 1946: The Belle Epoque of French Furniture' and 'Animals in Bronze, Reference and Price Guide'. See less