Head of Sale - American Furniture & Decorative Arts

Andrew Taggart joins Heritage Auctions to lead Decorative Arts to 1900. The former Freeman's senior specialist will oversee a newly reorganized department with an expanded scope that includes American furniture and decorative arts. Published on October 14, 2026 Andrew Taggart has developed broad generalist expertise across American, British and European furniture and decorative arts. Download the Greysheet app for access to pricing, news, events and your subscriptions. Heritage Auctions is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Taggart as Director of Decorative Arts to 1900. After 10 years at Freeman's in Philadelphia, Taggart brings wide-ranging expertise and a discerning eye to this newly reorganized department, which will unite Heritage's offerings of exceptional American, British and European decorative arts and sculpture dating from before the 20th century. "We are excited to welcome Andrew to the team at a moment when the Decorative Arts are on the rise at Heritage," says Nick Nicholson, Deputy Chairman, Decorative Arts. "The newly reorganized department of Decorative Arts to 1900 will focus on exceptional pre-20th-century objects, and for the first time will include American works from the 17th century through the turn of the 20th. Andrew's expertise, creativity and broad knowledge of the market make him an exceptional addition to Heritage." Taggart holds a master's degree from the Bard Graduate Center in New York and has developed broad generalist expertise across American, British and European furniture and decorative arts. He is particularly recognized for his knowledge of Southern furniture, an area in which connoisseurship, regional history and an understanding of construction and materials are essential. He is also a USPAP-compliant, Accredited Member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). "The pleasure of working with Decorative Arts is connecting with collectors over the objects they love and helping them discover the stories behind a piece," says Taggart. "I'm excited to join Heritage and work with colleagues across disciplines to build auctions that invite those discoveries, whether someone is pursuing a lifelong collecting interest or encountering a field for the first time." "I have long admired Andrew's knowledge and connoisseurship, and I am thrilled that he is joining Heritage," says Adam Williams, VP & Managing Director of Fine and Decorative Arts. "His breadth of expertise and discernment make him exactly the right person to lead this newly expanded department and help us build a more cohesive and ambitious approach to the field." Taggart will work closely with Heritage's specialists across Fine and Decorative Art, American Art and Americana to develop consignments and present thoughtful Signature and Showcase auctions with a strong commercial and scholarly focus. "Andrew joins Heritage at an exciting time for American Fine and Decorative Arts," says Aviva Lehmann, Deputy Chairman of Fine Art. "We look forward to having him work in concert with me and the American Art team, as well as with Caroline Tamposi in Americana. With this expanded team, Heritage is exceptionally well positioned to provide comprehensive support for important American collections, from individual masterpieces to entire estates." Taggart will divide his time between Philadelphia, New York and Dallas. In his new role, he will develop Decorative Arts to 1900 auctions, cultivate consignments and client relationships, and collaborate across categories at Heritage to bring important works and collections to market. His appointment strengthens Heritage's integrated approach to serving collectors, estates and institutions across the Fine and Decorative Arts. Your identity will be restricted to first name/last initial, or a user ID you create.

Freeman's appoints Jelena James as Senior Specialist, Head of Sale, Old Masters & 19th Century European Art. Seasoned specialist brings more than two decades of international auction experience and deep expertise in European painting from the Renaissance through the early twentieth century Press Aug 4, 2026 Freeman's is pleased to announce the appointment of Jelena James as Senior Specialist and Head of Sale for Old Masters & 19th Century European Art. In this role, James will lead the sourcing and execution of the department's sales, further strengthening Freeman's position in the European paintings market. James brings more than two decades of experience in the international auction market, having held senior specialist positions at Bonhams Skinner and New Orleans Auction Galleries, where she served as Director of Fine Art. During her tenure in New Orleans, she launched the firm's first dedicated Fine Art auction in 2017, establishing a specialty platform for European and American paintings; in 2021, she founded the Modern and Contemporary Art & Design department, whose inaugural auction realized $1.8 million. "Jelena's connoisseurship and track record of uncovering exceptional works make her a tremendous addition to our team," said Daisy Edelson, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Fine Art. "Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to build on Freeman's legacy in European paintings and connect collectors with important works in this collecting category." In her role, James will advise private collectors, estates, and public institutions on all aspects of collecting European works of art - from valuation to sale. Over the course of her career, she has overseen the sale of significant estates, private collections, and deaccessioned works from museums and universities, including the distinguished collection of Old Master paintings from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. She has directed the successful sale of important works by numerous artists, including Thomas Gainsborough's Portrait of Gainsborough Dupont, rediscovered in a Jackson, Mississippi, estate and sold in 2018, and a fifteenth-century Portrait of Julia De Rubeis, from the House of De' Rossi, attributed to the Manner of Lorenzo di Credi, rediscovered in a private collection in Ocala, Florida, in 2015. James holds a diploma from Christie's Education, London (Royal Society of Arts) in Fine and Decorative Arts from Antiquity to the Renaissance, and a bachelor's degree from Hollins University. Her appointment underscores Freeman's continued investment in category expertise and its commitment to serving collectors across the United States. About Freeman's Freeman's is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman's strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.