Christie, Manson & Woods, Ltd.

Biography

On 5 December 1766 the first sale was conducted in London by the firm which became known as Christie's. James Christie [1730-1803] was born in Perth; the earliest auction catalogues simply indicate sales held by "Mr. James Christie" in his rooms on Pall Mall. In 1831 William Manson [d. 1852] became a partner to James' grandson George Henry Christie [d. 1887] and the firm name became "Christie & Manson." In 1859 Thomas H. Woods [d. 1906] joined as third partner to George Henry's son James H.B. Christie, and William Manson's brother and successor, Edward Manson [d. 1884]. From this time forward the firm is called "Christie, Manson & Woods." When James H.B. Christie retired in 1887, he was the last of that family name to be associated with the firm. Over the centuries, Christie's has conducted many important sales, including the negotiation of the sale of Sir Robert Walpole's collection to Catherine the Great of Russia, who ultimately installed the works in the Imperial Hermitage Gallery. In 1794, Christie's conducted the sale of the contents of Sir Joshua Reynold's studio; in 1848 the firm sold the collection of the Duke of Buckingham at Stowe house in a sale that lasted forty days. In 1882, a sale was held of the pictures and contents of the Duke of Hamilton's palace; in 1886 the Duke of Marlborough's collection at Blenheim palace was sold by Christie's. Christie's opened its United States' salerooms in 1977 with an office on Park Avenue, New York, and in 1979 opened Christie's East, on East 67th Street in New York. By 1992 the firm had expanded to offices in 29 countries. [Compiled from sources and references recorded on CMS]

Bibliography

1926

Mariller, H.C. Christie's: 1766-1925. London, 1926

1996

Lacy, Robert. "A Grand Old Rivalry." Vanity Fair January 1996:107+

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