Art Handler

**About Bonhams**

Bonhams is a global auction house with an 18th century heritage poised for transformative change. Our global operations are based in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong where we sell in over 60 categories, including motor cars, paintings, jewellery, and entertainment memorabilia.

Our employees are passionate about their work and we pride ourselves on a bespoke approach that aims to make every client feel important.

Paris salesroom is organizing more than 60 auction sales and is welcoming travelling exhibitions sold in the international salesroom of Bonhams.

**About the Team**

The purpose of the Global Service Operations functions is to provide a consistently high service standard to our clients and to provide support internally to deliver the best results for the business. Through a diverse group of functional areas including Client Services, Logistics, Photography and Shipping we ensure the efficient management of operations to provide an efficient and scalable infrastructure to run all activities in our salerooms, regional offices and warehouse locations across the world.

**About the Role**

This role predominantly includes the safe handling, installation, movement and storage of all works of art throughout the Paris salesroom and storage. The role will also focus on the safe coordination of incoming and outgoing artwork in our Paris space. The individual will be responsible for deliveries and collections directly from clients, carriers and Bonhams inter branch transfers. Communication with Specialist Departments, Shipping and external carriers is critical to this process. The role will participate to exhibitions installation.

Whilst efficiency is important focus should remain on artwork safety at all times, ensuring items are unpacked, condition checked and barcodes added before organising and assisting with the safe movement to the final storage location. The individual will ensure the smooth running of this process, adhering to correct procedures whilst maintaining good communication.

The individual is also responsible for supporting specialist departments in the day to day management and movement of property, whilst continuing to meet auction deadlines.

**Key Responsibilities**

In your role as Art Handler, you will:

- Ensure clear and frequent communication to colleagues and Management, ensuring any issues are escalated in a timely manner
- Movement, handling and packing of artwork between and within Bonhams locations in compliance with company manual handling and health and safety policies
- Supporting and assisting the departments to meet deadlines in preparation of public viewings, auctions and events
- Installation of artworks and objects, requiring the use of hand and power tools
- Working at height upon occasions
- Regular heavy lifting, including moving large paintings, sculpture, works of art, furniture, saleroom equipment and display cabinets
- Being aware of all security aspects of the saleroom including the monitoring of goods in the saleroom itself, loading bay and other public areas
- Maintain high degree of vigilance for the safe custody of goods on viewing and auction days, reporting any anomalies to the Senior Art Handler, Head of Saleroom or Gallery Manager
- Ensuring that all key areas in the building are clear and operational at all times
- To provide excellent client service at all times
- Be aware of, and follow, all best practices concerning the handling of art and objects and health and safety controls in the workplace
- Ensure that all lots are checked off and a location catalogue prepared before public viewing
- Accurate locating of property within the salerooms and in collections
- Assist the team of the gallery before the commencement of the auction ensuring all the necessary equipment is available and in place
- Liaise with and support cashiers and client service teams as and when required
- To safeguard and protect condition of artwork at all times
- Assist in the supervision the clearing of objects by a third-party shipper ensuring they also safeguard the condition of items at all times
- Perform specialist department duties as allocated - specifically the day to day management of property care, inventory accuracy and movement of lots within the offices, studios and salerooms
- Communicate and liaise with relevant Specialist department teams to ensure property is managed according to their requirements or deadlines
- Ensure both specialist teams and saleroom management are aware of current workload and flag any competing priorities or issues that may create conflict
- In addition to the tasks and responsibilities listed, you may be required to perform other duties as assigned by your Manager
- The seasonal nature of the auction industry requires a flexible approach and the need to work overtime, weekends and also to assist operations at other Bonhams locations as and when required.

**Key Skills and Experience**
- Efficient, har