Job Vacancy | Auction House Porter/Junior Cataloguer
We are looking to welcome a hardworking, diligent individual to our friendly team.
Job Title: Auction House Porter/Junior Cataloguer
Location: Kinghams Auctioneers, Moreton-in-Marsh
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience
Reporting to: Head of Interiors
About Us:
Kinghams Auctioneers is a respected and rapidly growing regional Fine Art auction house located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh. Alongside our monthly Cotswold Interiors Sale, we host regular specialist auctions: Fine and Decorative Art, Silver, Jewellery, Watches and Designer Goods and Private Collection sales. We operate with a commitment to excellence, integrity, and client service and provide a dynamic and professional working environment.
Role Overview:
We are currently seeking a capable, proactive Auction House Porter/Junior Cataloguer to join our team. This role, largely based in the Interiors department, involves handling a variety of fine and decorative art objects, supporting auction operations, and using digital systems to assist with inventory management. There will also be an expectation to develop as a junior cataloguer, assisting in grouping, cataloguing and placing estimates on lots in the Cotswold Interiors Sale. The ideal candidate will be confident in safe manual-handling*, digitally literate with strong attention to detail, and preferably have prior experience in an auction house or similar setting.
*This position requires safe lifting and storing of multiple items up to 20kg independently (on occasion items can arrive more than 20kg requiring a two-person lift). These requirements are performed in both a warehouse environment or office setting, either back of house or potentially in view and interacting with customers.
Key Responsibilities:
Portering Role
- Safely handle, move, and display stock, including high value items
- Unloading deliveries, storing items, assisting with collections and overseeing the off-site disposal of designated items
- Pack, unpack, and check consignments in accordance with handling best practices
- Ensure items are properly labelled with vendor/stock numbers and stored in the correct area/signposted to correct staff
- Portering stock around the saleroom
- Support the setup and breakdown of auction viewings and salesroom displays
- Operate our internal inventory system/database
- Operate digital tools such as tablets, stock control software, and Microsoft Office programs
- ‘Lotting up’ sales, assigning lot numbers and accurately stickering the objects
- Operating a bidding platform on sale day
- Maintain cleanliness and organisation across storerooms, galleries, and public areas
- Support auction day operations including room setup and client assistance
- Invigilating auction viewings
- Addressing condition reports, sending supplementary photos in response to condition enquiries.
- Supporting Interiors catalogue photography and editing
- Provide support for the photography department in moving and assembling items for photography
- Provide support for the dispatch/packing department
- Check on a regular basis collections and delivery appointments, liaising with admin staff to ensure items are ready for collection/space is made available to take receipt of items
- Providing assistance to the general running of the auction house wherever is deemed necessary
Junior Cataloguer
- Assist in cataloguing items for upcoming sales, ensuring descriptions are accurate, engaging, and in keeping with Kinghams’ house style
- Conduct research on artists, makers, provenance, and comparable pieces, referring back to previous sales and relevant record databases to support accurate valuation and cataloguing
- Collaborate with senior specialists to verify details, condition, and authenticity of items
- Prepare catalogue entries with attention to grammar, clarity, and specialist terminology
- Working towards cataloguing independently with accuracy and brevity in a timely manner
Essential Requirements:
- A genuine interest and enthusiasm for art, history, design, and material culture.
- Able to carry out manual handling tasks, including two-person lifts, and storing items safely in warehouse conditions
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Skilled in written communication
- Competent handling of delicate, heavy or high-value objects
- Adaptable, ability to adjust to a busy environment and multitask
- Team-oriented, reliable and professional
- Strong digital literacy – confident using smart phones, tablets and basic IT systems
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Willingness to take initiative and complete varied tasks as part of a small team
- Diligent with a keen sense of personal and collective responsibility
- Liaise courteously with clients, couriers, and colleagues
- Be willing to learn quickly and take direction
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Excellent written communication and accuracy, with good grammar and spelling
- Ability to quickly acquire and correctly utilise specialist terminology relevant to fine art and antiques
- Analytical and research-minded, with the ability to reference previous sales and comparable items
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure
- Be willing to learn quickly and take direction
Desirable Skills/Experience:
- Previous auction house, gallery, or logistics experience preferred
- Experience in cataloguing general auctions is an advantage, or minimally a commitment to developing this skill
- A general knowledge of health and safety and experience working in a secure environment
- Ability to operate our internal inventory system/database (with training)
- Photographic skills
- Photo editing ability, particularly Canva, basic training will be provided
- An awareness of specialist vocabulary related to arts and antiques, coupled with an essential desire to learn and develop in this area
Working Hours & Conditions:
- ‘In-office’, based in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire with onsite parking
- Full time operational hours 9am-5pm, with some flexibility required around late deliveries or auction dates, including evenings and very occasionally weekends
- Manual lifting and extended periods of physical activity are part of the role. There is use of trolleys in the warehouse.
- Operating in an unheated/non air-conditioned warehouse environment
Please register interest and forward CVs to Head of Interiors, Tarragon Kelham, tarragon@kinghamsauctioneers.com
