NEW YORK.- New York – Christie’s International, the world’s leading art business, announced today the appointment of Dr. Amin Jaffer as International Director of Asian Art, effective immediately. In this role, Dr. Jaffer will have a particular responsibility for developing Christie’s brand and business within India and among Indian communities worldwide. Dr. Jaffer is based in London and will report directly to Jussi Pylkkänen, President of Christie’s Europe and Su-Mei Thompson, Director of Strategic Business Development, Asia.

“Christie’s strategies and activities over the past seasons have reflected the globalization of the art market in an extraordinary manner,” said Mr. Pylkkänen. “The appointment of Dr. Jaffer underlines our strong commitment to the Indian market and will allow us to continue to strengthen the awareness of the Christie’s brand”. Ms. Thompson added: “Asia has always been and remains a top priority for Christie's. As the leading international fine art auctioneer in Asia and the first to have a presence in India, Christie's is continuing to expand its presence and influence in this fast-growing and dynamic region and we are delighted to welcome Dr. Jaffer to our strong and authoritative team of Asian art specialists and business getters.”

Amin Jaffer joins Christie’s from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where he was both a Senior Curator and Senior Fundraiser. He has organized and contributed to multiple symposia and exhibitions and has an active international lecturing profile, having spoken at such venerable institutions as the Bard Graduate Center, New York; the China Society, London; the Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge; The Islamic Art Museum, Kuala Lumpur and the Government Museum, Madras. He is the author of the path-breaking volumes Furniture from British India and Ceylon and Made for Maharajas: a design diary of Princely India and is the co-editor of Encounters: the meeting of Asia and Europe: 1500-1800, which accompanied a blockbuster V&A exhibition.

Dr. Jaffer was awarded a Ph.D. for his thesis ‘Furniture from British India 1750-1830’ by the Victoria and Albert Museum/Royal College of Art in 1995 and a B.A. (honours) degree in History and History of Art from Trinity College, University of Toronto in 1990. He attended the Attingham Summer School in 1997 and completed Royal Collection Studies at Windsor Castle in 1998.