CHICAGO, IL.- Leslie Hindman Auctioneers announced that Jon King joins the firm as Senior Consultant for the Southeast region. He has extensive auction experience as both an appraiser and in business development for the New York, California and Florida markets.

Mr. King began his career in the early 1980s at Sotheby’s in Los Angeles and New York. Selected to participate in an intensive year-long management program, he was trained in every aspect of the auction business and within a multitude of collecting categories. This instilled a unique knowledge and understanding of objects as a true ‘generalist.’ As such, Mr. King can review furniture, decorative arts, fine art, clocks, watches and collectibles, a rarity in the appraisal world.

While maintaining his position as an appraiser, Mr. King later ventured into the world of auction house management. He first oversaw a staff of 60 as Executive Vice President, Director of the Butterfield Los Angeles gallery and became a founding Vice President and Director of Bonhams, New York when the British firm opened their doors in September of 2003.

After a decade directing the New York operation, he went on to spearhead business in both New York and Florida as Vice President and Director of Business Development for Bonhams. This allowed him to become more fluid as many of his clients traveled between homes.

Mr. King had the pleasure of securing and overseeing such collections as the estates of Lauren Bacall, Truman Capote, Aimee de Heeren, Liberace, Kalef Alaton, Michael Taylor, Burton Bettingen, among others, as well as having the distinction of working with the PBS Antiques Roadshow and HGTV’s Appraise It!. He has lectured at the Smithsonian Institution and the University of California, Los Angeles and has served on advisory boards and councils for several museums and academic institutions. He has authored numerous published articles related to the decorative arts and maintained a monthly column in Northern California Homes and Garden magazine entitled “For What It’s Worth.”

“We are very happy to enhance our Southeast team with the addition of Jon King and his fantastic industry and object knowledge,” says Kate Waterhouse, Vice President of the Southeast Region. “Jon is a true industry unicorn. Having a strong generalist is a coveted role for any auction team; able to discuss 19th century paintings as well as Nakashima furniture.”

Mr. King will primarily be devoting his time to the Atlanta office of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers but will also spend time assisting clients in Florida where he maintains a residence located between the Palm Beach office of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and Miami.

Jon King remarks, “It truly is a pleasure working with Kate Waterhouse, Mary Calhoun and the entire team - it is refreshing to see such collaboration towards a common goal. I have been very impressed with the positive and innovative approach to client outreach throughout the Southeast region and look forward to assisting in building 2019 auctions.”

The Palm Beach saleroom conducts numerous auctions throughout the calendar year in addition to the sale of important single-owner collections and is currently accepting consignments for 2019 sales.