Philip Howell FRICS
- Sussex Auction Room
- 01403 700858
- [email protected]
Phil joined Bellmans as a Consultant Valuer in 2011, and is responsible for the Asian Art, and British & European Ceramics sales. He started his career in provincial auction houses before moving to Sotheby's Billingshurst in 1987. In 2000 he moved to Sotheby's Olympia before becoming Head of European Ceramics in Bond Street in 2007.
His love for ceramics began when his mother went to lectures on 18th Century porcelain and Phil would join her and talk to the lecturer. He took a foundation year at art college and continued at Southampton, where one of his lecturers offered him his first job in a local auction house.
Phil's work has also become his hobby. Aside from that, he enjoys taking his Jack Russell, George, for long walks in the Sussex countryside and watching the two sports he used to play most - cricket and rugby - on television.
Career Highlight: amongst many, the most pleasing at Bellmans, a pair of mid-18th century Meissen porcelain models of squirrels modelled by J.J. Kaendler. The owner, who brought them in on a routine valuation day, had no idea of their rarity and was staggered when they sold for £45,000.
Fantasy Discovery: the shortlist includes a piece of late 17th century Japanese Kakiemon porcelain, an early Chinese mark and period piece of porcelain, or perhaps an unrecorded item of dated English Delftware.