Our Antiques & Fine Art Division is the oldest division in our company. This division has expanded dramatically over the years and currently enjoys a national and international clientele. The department head for the Antiques & Fine Art Division is Bill Gage who is assisted by a Sales Coordinator, Tony Greist. They are supported by the tremendous energy and capabilities of Katya Tilton, their Associate Sales Coordinator. Mr. Gage graduated from the University of Connecticut at Storrs in 1977 and in 1979-1980 he completed a course at the University of Massachusetts on identifying antiques. He attended and graduated from the International Auction School and to this day, teaches and is a member of the faculty of the International Auction School where (once a year) he teaches the auction business and use of the auction catalog. Mr. Gage has also conducted several seminars involving identification and evaluating of antiques on subjects such as silver, art and porcelain. He also participates in numerous appraisal days for the benefit of various charities. Bill started his auction career in 1980 with Douglas Auctioneers in Deerfield, Massachusetts, a long time auction firm there. In 1995 he took over the position of department head for the Antiques & Fine Art Division at Julia's. Bill has been involved in the antiques business for some 25 years now and during the course of time has handled over 1,000,000 objects. He has also participated in over 1,100 auctions to date and conducted hundreds of written appraisals.
Anthony (Tony) Greist is a well-known New England antiques professional. He's been involved in the business for over 35 years. At one time he ran his own business and had previously worked for another major New England auction firm before coming to Julia's. Tony and Bill both have very compatible work ethics. They're both extremely focused, incredibly hard-working individuals with a deep and sincere approach to serving their consignors on the highest level. In addition to their credibility, both gentlemen have tremendous depth in the antiques world and, over the years, have been involved in an extraordinarily diverse spectrum of antiques and collectibles. Associate Sales Coordinator Katya Tilton first came to work for our company in August of 1997 as an assistant. Over the years she has worked her way up through the company ranks with positions of continually increasing responsibilities and challenges. Her knowledge and skills are commendable. The Antiques & Fine Art Division handles collections, estates and individual quality items. This division has, and continues to handle, an incredibly diverse spectrum of goods. The emphasis tends to be on fine art, but handles literally all manner of antiques whether it be early American, European, folk art, historical items, fine silver, porcelain, oriental carpets, quality jewelry, ethnic items and much, much more! Over the years this division has distinguished itself both with the quality and scope of antiques it has handled and truly impressive results. In 1999 this division handled the Robert Lang Estate of Rye, New York. After competing with Sotheby's, Christies, Swan's, Skinner's, Doyle's and a wide host of other regional and international auction houses, James D. Julia's not only won the contract for the estate but also convinced its owners to allow them to remove the items to the state of Maine where a multi-session sale was conducted. The results were extraordinary; a great number of new world records were established in many areas and the success of the sale dramatized the ability to successfully market very high end and important antiques in the state of Maine. A rare, early copy of the Declaration of Independence (the 2nd Boston edition) from the Lang estate established a new world record for a non-Dunlap issue. At $415,000 the previous record of around $100,000 for a similar example had been set at an international auction house a year and a half earlier. Our Antiques & Fine Art Division works with estates, trust departments, executors and collectors from all over North America. You will find that all members of this team are professional, personable and extraordinarily knowledgeable. Whether you have one item or an entire collection to consign, please call us at (207) 453-7125 or e-mail us for a prompt response.