DOERR VALUATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Valuer & Watch Specialist
- Senior Valuer & Wristwatch Specialist
Alastair Meiklejon has been involved in the antiques industry for over 20 years as an auctioneer and valuer. He is rather unique in his extensive broad knowledge with interests and passions to include the following specialities; watches, militaria, automobilia, rock and pop, posters, comics books, and musical instruments.
Alastair is also a knowledgeable and experienced general valuer in furniture, works of art, ceramics, silverware and general contents. Together with an expertise of fashion including handbags, luggage and high-end clothing.
Alastair is a well known and respected professional in the ever changing world of watch valuations, as a seasoned expert for over 20 years he has seen some of the great collections of the world and helped the most experienced of collectors understand their collections, and their true value.
Alastair is a qualified, professional member of the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers and was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Jewellery and Watches Specialist
Annabell has worked with international fine jewellery and watch brands for over 20 years. The daughter of an auctioneer and valuer, it was no surprise when she followed the family into the Jewellery industry after leaving University. Since 1995 she has worked with, amongst others, Boodles, Leo De Vroomen, Rolex, Patek Phillipe and Frank Muller where her work has revolved around certificated gemstones, high end watches, antique and handmade fine jewellery.
During those 25 years, she attained internationally recognised industry qualifications and affiliations and is a Registered Valuer with both valuing institutes of the United Kingdom. As an established specialist she enjoys finding forgotten gems and uncovering their family history.
Aurélia Turrall has over twenty years' experience in the auction industry. She started her career in Business Development and Client Services at Christie's and Sotheby's Paris. She went on to obtain her Graduate Gemmologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Relocating from Paris to London, Aurélia joined the Jewellery department at Bonhams, dealing with client valuations and auction preparations.
Aurélia has a Bachelor of Arts degree from King's College London and a Baccalaureate in Economics and Literature. She speaks English, French being her native language, and some Spanish. Aurelia has also had experience of working with specialist lenders Borro and working for SYMEV (French Association of Auctioneers) in Paris where she was Head of Communications.
In her spare time, Aurélia writes feature length screenplays and children books. Being able to value clients' jewellery is what she loves to do and she has been privileged to handle some unique pieces.
Job Titles:
- Impressionist, Post War & Contemporary Art Specialist
- Specialist
Ben Hanly is an established contemporary art specialist. He began his career working in the Old Master and 20th Century markets before moving into the contemporary market. He has over 20 years' experience working in the UK and international art markets.
A graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the Courtauld Institute of Art London, Ben has developed specialist level knowledge in Old Masters, Impressionist, Modern and Post War & Contemporary art. In addition to this Ben has extensive project management experience having curated and produced over 100 art projects spanning highly complex multi-venue festivals to smaller bespoke events. He has worked with governmental, institutional and commercial partners including the National Gallery, V&A, the Serpentine Gallery, the Courtauld Institute, Christie's, Sotheby's and the Russian Ministry of Culture.
Job Titles:
- Russian Works of Art Specialist / General Valuer
Cynthia Coleman Sparke is an established Russian works of art specialist with a background in art risk.
Her upbringing periodically spent in Moscow fed her interest in Russian art at Smith College (BA) and later at the Bard Graduate Centre (MA). After running the Russian Department at Christie's New York, she worked for the Hillwood Museum in Washington DC, The Alexander Palace in St. Petersburg and Chubb Insurance in London as a Senior Appraiser increasing her all round general knowledge of Art and Antiques. In this role, Cynthia advised HNW clients internationally on home insurance,co-launching the Fine Art Advisory Service for collectors of fine art and other valuables.
Cynthia's book "Russian Decorative Arts" was published in 2014 by the Antiques Collectors' Club and she recently joined The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive and Old Master Specialist
David Dallas joined Christie's in 1969, where he was the youngest person in a Technical Department (Old Masters). He subsequently became deputy head of the Picture Department at Phillips Son and Neale and ended his auctioneering career as International Director (Global Head) of Old Masters at Bonham's in January 2015.
In between he worked for more than twenty years with Johnny Van Haeften, specialising in Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 17th Century. He is a specialist in British Landscape Paintings 1750-1850.
He was for many years on the Vetting Committee of the Summer and Winter Art and Antiques Fair at Olympia and Chairman of the Picture Vetting Committee at Grosvenor House Fair and has also been on the vetting committee of Masterpiece. He is a trustee of the Reading Foundation for Art, a former Chairman of The Friends of Reading Museum and Gallery and an external adviser to the Collections Committee of Eton College.
Sebastian was Senior Risk and Valuation Adviser within the Art and Private Client division at Hiscox, the specialist High Net Worth insurer, for almost a decade. This included particular responsibility nationwide for building valuations and historic buildings, and geographically for Scotland and the north of England.
He started his career as an Historic Buildings inspector at Historic Scotland and was then a Fine Art auctioneer for ten years. During this time he was a Director of Phillips Scotland and Head of Furniture at Lyon & Turnbull, where he was instrumental in helping to re-establish the firm as one of the UK's leading independent auctioneers.
Sebastian is exceptionally well informed on the history of Scotland and its buildings. He wrote his doctorate at St Andrews University on the Eighteenth Century Furniture Trade in Edinburgh and was for a long time Secretary and Committee member of the Historic Houses Association for Scotland. He has contributed to many academic Journals, as well as more popular magazines and has lectured widely, including for NADFAS and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Job Titles:
- Valuations & Private Clients Manager
Eunice joined Doerr Dallas Valuations as part of the Admin Team in September 2021. Bringing with her over 25+ years of Office Management / PA Experience for various companies, giving her the ability to adapt across industries.
Based in our Surrey office, she will be supporting administrative functions and providing secretarial support to Rachel and the team, overseeing our marketing activity including social media.
Francesca Orme has had experience in the jewellery world for over twenty years. Having been immersed at a young age at her family jewellery business in London, Francesca chose to train as a jewellery specialist after university. In 2006 she joined Bonhams and latterly Christie's Auction House, both in their jewellery departments in London.
She travelled around the UK as well as other parts of the world, namely Italy, Portugal, New York and Geneva.
She is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association having successfully completed her FGA and DGA qualifications and completed a coloured stones course in Basel with The Swiss Gemmological Institute, (SSEF).
Job Titles:
- Jewellery, Handbag and Wristwatch Specialist
Job Titles:
- Valuations & Private Client Services Administrator
Jane works as part of the administrative team working closely with the valuers, specialists and clients, reporting to Rachel. All valuations go under the watchful eye of Jane who has been working with Rachel since 2006 on providing excellent service and delivering a beautiful report.
Jane's experience and diligence ensures our reports go out in a timely manner and you the client are aware of what is going on.
Job Titles:
- Silver & Jewellery Specialist
Jenny has been working in the Silver and Jewellery industry for over 35 years. She has a degree in English and loves to find an elegant phrase to describe the pieces she is valuing.
She joined Bonhams from university and worked for many years in the silver, jewellery and clocks and watches department, becoming Deputy Head of department whilst still in her twenties.
She left to persuade a career as an independent specialist, returning to Bonhams as a consultant to run their highly successful gentlemen's sales. She has worked with Buckingham Palace, The Rothschild Waddesdon Trust, and the Goldsmiths Company where she co-curated their cufflink exhibition. She also worked with John Lewis for over twenty five years, supplying them with antique jewellery for the retails sales, and later enjoyed working with Bloomingdales in The United States supplying cufflinks and gentleman's accessories.
She has lectured extensively here and abroad in her specialist areas and has a particular interest in cufflinks, which although niche she finds fascinating!
She is highly experienced in valuation work for insurance, probate and market assessment, and pursues this alongside her consultancy role for an auction house, and continuing work with The Rothschild Trust, and Garsington Opera.
Jenny joined Doerr Dallas Valuations as Marketing Manager in July 2024. She has over 20 years experience as a Marketing professional, and worked for 8 years as a Marketing Consultant before joining Rachel and the team.
After obtaining her Professional Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in 2008, Jenny has continued to develop her skills in marketing, website design, graphic design and social media management.
Based in the Surrey office, she plans and implements all marketing activity for the growing business.
Job Titles:
- Modern & Contemporary Art Specialist
Job Titles:
- Jewellery, Silver & Watches Specialist
Rachel Doerr - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Rare Books & Manuscripts, Historical Photographs and Maps Consultant Specialist
Job Titles:
- Senior Valuer & Collectors Specialist