AN ANTIQUES specialist who has been a long-running advisor on a BBC programme is set to join Duke’s of Dorchester.

Lee Young, who has appeared on Antiques Roadshow since 2011, will be taking up the role of head of the Asian department and managing director in December.

Lee is highly regarded in the auction world and started out at Messenger May and Baverstock in Godalming, Surrey in 1988 and went on to hone his skills at international auction houses Sotheby’s, Phillip’s and Freemans of Philadelphia. 

He founded the Asian Department at Lyon & Turnbull in 2012 in response to a rapidly evolving market. Last year he was responsible for securing the sale of the Xuande “Thornhill” stem cup, which was consigned by Staffordshire University. He masterminded the pre-auction marketing of the cup, which was exhibited in London and New York prior to being sold at auction in Hong Kong for a record-breaking £3.6 million.

On the Antiques Roadshow he advises on Asian Art, ceramics and miscellaneous objects bought in for assessment by the general public. 

A spokesman for Duke’s said: “We are delighted Lee is joining us. He combines a great depth of knowledge with the dynamism essential to win business. We anticipate he will become a partner in the business once he has established himself within our team.”

The market continues to change and evolve all the time and we believe there will be further opportunities to expand as the London Rooms continue to move away from the middle market as demonstrated by the closure of Christie’s South Kensington”.

Lee added: “Duke’s is a strong brand with a great reputation for making exciting discoveries across all categories seen most recently in the sale of two Chinese paintings for £1,000,000 and an Aston Martin for £650,000. This clearly demonstrates the ability and reach to operate at the highest level. Their impressive new premises is comparable to market leading operations that I have seen elsewhere in the world and this underscores their commitment to future growth and development. I am excited to join them on this journey and to build on their past successes.”