News

Rufus Bird

Director of Decorative Arts and Heritage Collections

London

rbird@gurrjohns.com

Stephan Ludwig

Director, Gurr Johns International; CEO, Gurr Johns Capital and auction businesses

London

sludwig@gurrjohns.com

Jillian Beck

Vice President, Senior Jewelry Specialist

New York

jbeck@gurrjohns.com

Jillian Beck joined Gurr Johns in November 2022 as Vice President, Senior Jewelry Specialist, bringing more than 25 years’ experience in the jewelry industry. She provides appraisals for the purposes of estate and tax planning, charitable donations, insurance coverage and claims, family division, and loan collateral, in conjunction with advising clients on the private sale of fine jewelry, gemstones, and timepieces.

Jillian began her career in antique and estate jewelry before transitioning to retail, and eventually the consulting sector. She spent 9 years heading the appraisal department of a prominent New Jersey based fine jewelry retailer, gaining extensive experience appraising contemporary jewelry, including designer, important diamond, and fine colored gemstone pieces. She assisted the production department in the acquisition of gemstones and worked closely with various craftsman and suppliers to create custom jewelry. Jillian was then employed by the retailer and collateral lender Suttons & Robertsons, in New York, as assistant manager and head jewelry appraiser, before founding her own jewelry appraisal and consulting business, where she spent the last eight years. During this time she consulted for both private clients and appraisal firms, including Gurr Johns, on the appraisal and/or advisement of numerous important jewelry collections.

Jillian completed her Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America and received a BS in Business Administration from Felician University. She is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) and a member of the American Society of Jewelry Historians (ASJH). Jillian’s appraisals are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Practice (USPAP).

Sonia Fazlali-Zadeh

Director, Jewellery & Watches

London

valuations@gurrjohns.com

Sonia joined Gurr Johns in 2018. She has more than a decade of experience in the jewellery industry having started her career as a jewellery designer before moving on to work in retail and latterly focusing on valuations of fine and rare jewels. During this time, she has developed an extensive network of dealers, collectors, specialists and master craftsmen. She is a member of the Institute of Registered Valuers, a fellow of the Gemmological Association and is fully qualified as a gemmologist, diamond and pearl grader, having achieved distinction in her FGA and graduate diamond course with the Gem-A and GIA respectively.

Guy Vaissiere

Director, Valuations & Fiduciary Services, Europe

London

valuations@gurrjohns.com

Nick Holmes

Consultant, Modern European and British Art

London

ukadvisory@gurrjohns.com

Alessandro Fiorotto

Managing Director,  Art Finance

London

afiorotto@gurrjohns.com

Alessandro joined in 2020 to lead Gurr Johns’ Art Finance service, bringing a wealth of art financing and investment experience. He has advised on over $3bn worth of international transactions including cross-border corporate acquisitions, portfolio & fund management, as well as deploying and structuring complex debt and equity investments. Alessandro joined from The Fine Art Group where he was Vice President and CFO. Previously he was a portfolio manager and credit specialist at XXIII Capital, and prior to that worked at Citigroup and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Alessandro has a Bachelor of Commerce: Philosophy, Politics, Economics (PPE) from The University of Cape Town, and an MSc in Politics & Economics from University College London (UCL).

Samantha Dunn-Davies

General Valuer and Jewellery and Watches Specialist

London

valuations@gurrjohns.com

Sam joined Gurr Johns in 2022.  She has over twenty years’ experience working in auction houses and art finance as a general valuer in fine art, furniture and decorative arts, together with a specialism in jewellery and watches.

With a Bachelor Degree in History of Art and Design from the University of Northumbria and a Post Graduate Diploma in Decorative Art from Glasgow University, Sam is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and is fully qualified as a gemmologist and diamond grader.

Mark Longley

General Valuer

London

valuations@gurrjohns.com

Mark joined Gurr Johns in 2022.  He has over twenty years’ experience working primarily for auction houses as a general valuer, with particular expertise in the valuation of works of art, collectables, furniture and Islamic/Indian and Chinese/Asian art.

Qualified as a Fine Arts and Chattels Surveyor from the Southampton Institute, Mark is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Rachel Adler Rosan

Senior Director of Fine Art; Advisory & Appraisals

New York

rrosan@gurrjohns.com

Rachel Adler Rosan joined Gurr Johns in March 2022 as Senior Director of Fine Art, specialising in 20^th Century and Contemporary Art.   Bringing 25 years’ experience in the art market, Rachel provides appraisals for estate tax, charitable donation, insurance and collateral loans and advises private clients on acquiring and deaccessioning works of art.

Before joining Gurr Johns, Rachel spent 9 years as Vice President of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s where she led both the day and evening sales during a time of rapid market expansion.  After leaving Sotheby’s, she consulted for Gurr Johns for several years before joining Phillips in 2015 as Senior Specialist and Head of Appraisals for 20^th Century & Contemporary Art.

Rachel is a member of ArtTable and is actively involved with the American Friends of the Israel Museum.  She is a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America and her appraisals are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Sophie Samuelson

Collection Manager, Europe

London

ukadvisory@gurrjohns.com

Sophie advises and supports our clients with all curatorial aspects of their fine art and furniture collections. With a decade of experience in the art market, she provides a bespoke approach and draws upon her network of specialist suppliers and services to ensure that our collection management and art advisory services are delivered to exemplary standards.

Sophie was formerly an Associate Director at a London-based art advisory firm where, amongst other achievements, she spent 6 years managing high-net-worth-individuals’ private collections. Most recently she acted as an art and interiors advisor to a prominent private collector, managing and curating their international collection.

Elle Arscott

Art Collections Systems Manager

London

earscott@gurrjohns.com

Elle joined Gurr Johns in December 2021.  She is responsible for managing the re-valuation process through Gurr Johns’ bespoke Annual Updating Service (AUS) and oversees our specialised art collection management systems on behalf of institutions, trusts, estates and private collections.

Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Elle worked at the Royal Society of Sculptors as its Membership Manager and also brings extensive experience in Marketing roles.  Elle has an MA in Heritage Management from Athens University and prior to that graduated with an MA in History of Art and Music from Edinburgh University.

Mark Peters

Consultant

London

valuations@gurrjohns.com

Mark joined Gurr Johns in 1990 having previously worked as a General Valuer at Sotheby’s London for almost a decade. Prior to that, Mark was with the Antiques Department at Bonhams, London, after working as a trainee at Christie’s, London. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) since 1996, and before it merged with RICS, an Associate of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers (ASVA) from 1985. He has over 30 years’ experience and specialist knowledge of jewellery, silver, furniture and porcelain.

Jessica Wessel, Esq.

Director of Business Development, Northeast

New York

jwessel@gurrjohns.com

Elizabeth Amundsen

Vice President, Business Development, Midwest

Chicago

eamundsen@gurrjohns.com

Lizzie works closely with attorneys, private banks, wealth managers, insurance professionals, and private clients on the valuation of fine and decorative art, jewelry, wine, memorabilia, and other tangible personal property including the general contents of an estate. She oversees appraisals for the purposes of estate planning and estate tax, charitable giving, family division, litigation, insurance coverage and claims, art leasing, and loan collateral. Lizzie also facilitates private sales on behalf of collectors and fiduciaries.

Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Lizzie worked with facade architects on cultural institutions and landmark buildings including the Steppenwolf Theater and Willis Tower. Previously, she co-founded a media company to help museums expand their digital footprint and offset the expense of printed member communications through advertising partnerships with world-class institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Getty, the High Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She has further experience in art advisory, gallery management, and curatorial roles.

Lizzie holds a BFA in Art History, Theory, and Criticism from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is a member of the Arts Club of Chicago and the Society for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Lauren Kantor

Director of Business Development, West Coast

Los Angeles

lkantor@gurrjohns.com

Based in Los Angeles, Lauren leads business development on the West Coast. She facilitates the appraisal of fine art, decorative art, jewelry, watches, and other tangible personal property for the purpose of estate planning, estate tax, divorce, estate litigation, charitable giving, insurance and using art as collateral. She also works with fiduciaries and private clients to strategically offer single works or an entire collection in the market.

Prior to joining Gurr Johns in 2016, Lauren had over 15 years of experience in the international auction business working in London, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Lauren was most recently the Head of Valuations at Sotheby’s in New York. She previously served as Director of Trusts & Estates at Bonhams and in business development at Christie’s.

Lauren holds an MA in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute in London.

Patrick Sheehan

Director of Decorative Arts and Design, Senior Appraiser

New York

eastcoastapparaisals@gurrjohns.com

Patrick joined Gurr Johns in 2011 from the 20th Century Design Department of Sotheby’s, having previously specialized in European Furniture at Christie’s. He has a BA in Art History from the University of Florida, and an MA in Decorative Art and Design History from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. While studying for his MA he attended a summer study program offered in conjunction with the Royal College of Art, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Wallace Collection and Waddesdon Manor. Patrick has over 20 years’ experience as an appraiser and has a particular interest in the problematic areas of Tiffany glass, bronze and ivory sculptures, and art deco furniture. Patrick Sheehan’s appraisals are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Erin Marie Wallace

Vice President, Business Development, Southeast

Palm Beach

emwallace@gurrjohns.com

Erin Marie assists attorneys, insurance professionals, fiduciaries, and private clients to provide appraisals for fine and decorative art, furniture, jewelry, wine, collectibles, memorabilia, and general property for estate tax, divorce, charitable giving, insurance, art leasing, brokerage and loan collateral. She works with fiduciaries and private clients to strategically disperse these assets. Erin Marie also advises on current IRS guidelines and USPAP compliance.

As a former appraiser, auctioneer, and auction house CEO, Erin Marie gained extensive experience advising clients on building and dispersing collections privately, publicly and through charitable gifting. Prior to joining Gurr Johns, she was a Trusts & Estates manager and advised fiduciaries, lawyers, and private clients on selling estate collections of fine art, jewelry, and other luxury goods.

Erin Marie obtained her BFA from the University of Central Florida, her MA in Fine and Decorative Art from the University of Manchester and a second MA in Fine and Decorative Art from Sotheby’s Institute in London. She is a member of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach and the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach.

Darsi Monaco, Esq.

Director of Trusts & Estates

New York

dmonaco@gurrjohns.com

As the Director of Trusts and Estates, Darsi assists fiduciaries and private clients with the valuation and disposition of art and tangible personal property for estate planning, estate tax, divorce, estate litigation, charitable giving and using art as collateral. Darsi advises on IRS and USPAP rules, and best practices for valuations in complex art–related transactions and litigation.

Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Darsi worked in elder law, where she focused on the unique estate planning needs of artists, and developed a manual on estate planning for elder artists in New York. Before pursuing a law degree, she worked in art and film as a producer and production designer for films premiering at international film festivals and for art gallery installation.

Darsi obtained her BA from Bard College, and JD from the City University of New York School of Law, and is admitted to practice in New York.  She is a member of the Bard Center for Curatorial Studies Arts Council, the Planned Giving Advisory Council for the New York Historical Society, and the Estate and Gift Taxation Committee of the New York City Bar Association.

Eli Sterngass

Appraiser of Fine Art

New York

esterngass@gurrjohns.com

Eli began his career in the art world at a gallery specializing in 19th and 20th century American paintings. He joined Gurr Johns in 2018 and now performs USPAP compliant appraisals for estate tax, charitable donation, and insurance purposes. He also advises collectors across many categories and contributes to successful outcomes for private sales and auctions.

Based in New York, Eli focuses particularly on Hudson River School, American Impressionism, and American Modernism. He has a BA in Anthropology, Art History, and Museum Studies from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Jessica Manchester

Director, Art Advisory

New York

jmanchester@gurrjohns.com

Based in New York, Jessica brings over a decade of experience in Post-War & Contemporary Art sales and market expertise. As a Director with Gurr Johns Art Advisory, Jessica works to establish new clients and build upon existing client’s collections with focus on advising key acquisitions.

Prior to joining Gurr Johns, Jessica spent six years at Sotheby’s in the Contemporary Art Department and served as a Director in Private Sales. In addition to private sales, she secured consignments for the annual Contemporary sales, Impressionist & Modern, Prints and Photography auctions at Sotheby’s New York, London, Paris and Hong Kong locations. As a Specialist in Contemporary Art, Jessica worked closely with the with Valuations team gathering robust experience in appraisals for insurance, auction, fair market and estate purposes and is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Prior to Sotheby’s, Jessica worked at David Zwirner Gallery for three years during Zwirner’s global expansion.

Jessica attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she received a joint Bachelor’s Degree in Art History and Communications.

Lilly Dai

Business Development Director, Asia

London / Hong Kong

ldai@gurrjohns.com

Lilly Dai is Business Development Director for Gurr Johns in Asia. She is responsible for promoting Gurr Johns across China and South East Asia, ensuring that both private art collectors and institutional clients have the greatest and most seamless possible access to the company’s full suite of art advisory services, including brokerage, valuations, collection management, and art finance.

A native Mandarin speaker, she divides her time between London, Greater China and South East Asia. Prior to joining Gurr Johns in 2021, Lilly spent the majority of her professional career in the art world most recently working for an advisory business in London. She has a BSc and MSc in Urban Design from University College London and a semester diploma in the History of Decorative Arts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.