New York
Offices
Our New York office also offers an array of luxury goods and collectibles for immediate purchase. This includes a rotating selection of jewelry and handbags available to buy now from our Boutique (ha.com/boutique). You are welcome to visit during our regular business hours to see exhibitions for upcoming auctions, view our frequently-changing displays, get your collecting questions answered, or find the perfect gift for yourself and others. There is always something new to see at our satellite offices.
Hours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET
Saturday:
By Appointment
Address
445 Park Ave
New York, NY 10022-2606USA
(212) 486-3500
877-HERITAGE (437-4824)
(Park Ave at 56th Street)
Click here for directions
Greg Rohan
President
(214) 409-1300
View Biography
At the age of eight, Greg
Rohan started collecting coins and by the age of 10, he was buying and selling
coins from a dealer’s table at trade shows in his hometown of Seattle. His
business grew rapidly, and in 1987 he joined Heritage as Executive
Vice-President. Today, as President of Heritage, in addition to being the
partner in charge of Heritage’s offices in New York City and West Palm Beach,
his responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s private client group and
working with top collectors in every field in which Heritage is active. Greg
has been involved with many of the rarest items and most important collections
handled by the firm, including the purchase and sale of the Ed Trompeter
Collection (included in the Guinness Book of World Records). During his career,
Greg has handled more than $1 billion of property for consignors. He has
provided expert testimony for the United States Attorney and for the Federal
Trade Commission, and has appeared as an expert on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg,
Anderson Cooper, ABC, and CBS. He works with collectors, consignors, and their
advisors regarding significant collections in every one of Heritage’s 50
categories. The clients he has worked with have included the families of actor John
Wayne and publisher Malcolm Forbes, Random House Publishing, Time-Warner,
Frito-Lay, Stanford University, Columbia University, and The Smithsonian
Institution to name just a few. Greg is a past Chairman of Young Presidents’
Organization (YPO) for North Texas and is a current member of YPO in both
Dallas and New York City. He is an active supporter of the arts, is a past
advisor to the board at Austin College, and served two terms on the Tate
Lecture Board of Directors at Southern Methodist University. He co-authored the
award-winning “Collectors Estate Handbook,” and he served two terms on the
seven-person Advisory Board at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Sarah Miller
US Coins
(214) 409-1597
View Biography
Sarah Miller is Senior
Vice President and Partner at Heritage’s New York Office and brings a lifelong
passion for coins. A student of numismatics since age 11, she first fell in
love with coins and their history while attending her first coin show. This led
to a job in rare coins throughout high school and college, where she graduated
Summa Cum Laude from North Central College in Naperville, Ill., with a degree
in Finance and Economics.
Sarah assists Heritage clients
with buying and selling their rare coin and currency collections on a daily
basis. She has twice appeared as a numismatic expert on CNN and is a current
member of the Professional Numismatists Guild, American Numismatic Association,
the American Numismatic Society, and the New York Numismatic Club. She also is
a licensed Auctioneer in Texas, Florida, and New York City.
Todd Hignite
Executive Vice President
(214) 409-1790
View Biography
Todd Hignite is Executive Vice President and Partner, Heritage Auctions. Todd heads the New York City office and has been integral to the company’s continued expansion in multiple art and collectible categories over the last fifteen years. During that time he has overseen numerous record-setting results both at auction and privately, managed many of the largest private and institutional consignments, and played a key leadership role in the dramatic expansion of the markets for Comic Art and Illustration Art, which has seen Heritage established as the dominant international auction house in those fields.
Todd also has extensive experience as a writer and curator in both the museum and gallery worlds, notably in organizing the most substantial US retrospective devoted to Robert Crumb, which originated at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco and toured US museums, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, and the Frye Art Museum, Seattle, and as author of the books In the Studio: Visits with Contemporary Cartoonists (Yale University Press) and The Art of Jaime Hernandez/The Secrets of Life and Death (Abrams). He also worked for several years at Pace Gallery, New York, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Art History from Washington University in St. Louis.
Tim McNab
Managing Director
(214) 409-3057
View Biography
Tim McNab brings over 20 years of experience in auctions and appraisals to his role as Managing Director of Heritage Auctions’ New York office. A
USPAP-compliant generalist appraiser and licensed auctioneer, Tim specializes in 17th–19th century furniture, decorative arts, and luxury goods. His diverse career has taken him across key art markets—including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and London—where he has held roles in operations, international logistics, project and property management, and appraisals.
Tim earned his B.A. in French Language and Literature from UCLA. Raised in a family of professional musicians, he began his career in the performing arts, playing piano and cello and singing opera, with highlights including appearances with LA Opera during the 1984 Olympic Festival and performances at the Hollywood Bowl.
In his free time, Tim enjoys traveling the world, with a focus on medieval to revival architecture, fine art, and historic interiors.
Nicholas Dawes
Special Collections
(214) 409-1605
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Aviva Lehmann
Fine & Decorative Arts
(212) 486-3530
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Aviva Lehmann joined Heritage in January 2013 after 14 years in the auction industry. With over 20 years of in-depth knowledge and experience in American Art, she holds a broad interest in all aspects of the field. Aviva previously served as Vice President, Specialist in the American Art department at Christie’s, where she was instrumental in establishing dozens of auction records in virtually every category of American Art. While directing their midseason auctions in 2004-06, she doubled the value of these sales.
During the course of her career at Heritage, Aviva has been instrumental in bringing some of the finest single-owner collections to market, including the Judson Ball collection of Western and Wildlife Art, the Max Ember collection of Modernism and Design, and the Barry and Maria King collection of early American modernism. Her catalog for the King collection has been dubbed by American Fine Art Magazine ‘the new handbook for early American modernism’.
In addition to her work on single-owner collections, Aviva has been instrumental in establishing dozens of new auction records in the arena of American Art, and she was also responsible for bringing masterworks by Robert Motherwell, Georgia O’Keeffe, Helen Frankenthaler, Milton Avery, Norman Rockwell and Joseph Christian Leyendecker, among many others, to the auction block at Heritage.
Aviva lectures on American Art at museums and institutions throughout the country. She also serves as an adjunct professor of Appraisals and Valuation in the Art Administration Master’s Program at New York University. Aviva has been featured as a tastemaker in various publications, including Forbes, Intelligent Collector and Christie’s Magazine, and was recently interviewed by Artnet.com as a ‘power broker’ in the arena of American Art. As an expert on the art market, Aviva has been a contributor to broadcast television shows on Fox News and Bloomberg.
Elizabeth Goodridge
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-3223
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Diane D'Amato
Luxury Accessories
(214) 409-1901
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Diane D'Amato is the Director of Luxury Accessories and Private Sales at Luxury Boutique. Diane established her reputation in the luxury accessories world through high-profile positions at Hermès of Paris and Louis Vuitton. Her buying trips to Paris played a key role in setting market trends in the United States where she oversaw more than $20 million in annual sales. Diane specializes in creating exclusive marketing partnerships and fostering loyal client relationships. Based in New York, she is an integral part of the talent-rich Heritage team, where she assists consignors and collectors with appraisals and supervises the category’s double-digit growth. Diane is also a sought-after speaker, available to lecture on handbag trends.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Diane has used her expertise to support extensive charitable fundraising, organizing sales that have benefited organizations such as the Susan Morrow Legacy Foundation, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, FATE (Foundation for Autism Training & Education), Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital just to name a few.
Nigel Russell
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-1231
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Nigel Russell was educated at Vassar College and the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he studied Photographic Science and Engineering. He started his career in 1979 at Sotheby's London cataloguing antique cameras and scientific instruments and instituted Sotheby's first auctions devoted solely to cameras, photographic viewers and optical toys. In 1981 he transferred to Sotheby's New York as Assistant Departmental Director of the Collectibles Department and was responsible for the auction of the Dobran Collection of Photographica, the first sale of its kind in America.
After leaving Sotheby's Russell became the curator of the Spira Collection, New York, a private collection of approximately 20,000 items relating to the history of photography. He remained there until 1999, then working at Swann Auction Galleries as the Photographs & Camera Specialist. Subsequent to Swann"s, Russell was back at Sotheby's as the Director of the Photographs Department for Sothebys.com and at Christie's New York as a Photographs Specialist. He also consulted on antique and collectible cameras for Adorama, New York and WestLicht Photographica Auctions, Vienna.
From November 2005 to March 2006, Nigel was a photography consultant for the National Counsel for Culture, Art & Heritage, Doha, Qatar and worked as Photography Curator for the Qatar Museums Authority from November 2006 until March 2013.
Nigel is a major contributor to "The History of Photography As Seen Through The Spira Collection," published by Aperture in the fall of 2001 and co-author of "Spirit Capture: Photographs from the National Museum of the American Indian," published by the Smithsonian in the fall of 1998 as well as a contributor to various photography magazines. He was a member of the advisory committee of the Technology Department of the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House and has also lectured on the Photography Auction Market and Collecting Photographica.
Taylor Curry
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-1304
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Taylor Curry joined Heritage Auctions in 2013 and over his career, has been instrumental in the growth of the Modern & Contemporary Department. Having had the opportunity to live around the world in his youth, Taylor acquired a deep appreciation for art in its many forms. As that grew into a passion, he decided to pursue and ultimately earn an undergraduate degree in the History of Art from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. While completing his studies, he trained with the renowned Ingleby Gallery in Edinburgh, where he developed a keen interest in the business side of the art world. Looking to build on his gallery experience, he applied and was accepted to the Sotheby's Institute of Art and went on to earn a Master's Degree in Art Business.
Following graduation, he joined Heritage and has since enjoyed working across a number of fields in the auction business. In 2016, he joined Heritage's Modern and Contemporary Art team and is currently the Director of Modern & Contemporary Art in New York. Combining his love of contemporary art and knowledge of the auction business, and looks to provide his clients with the highest possible level of service. One of the founding specialists of the "In Focus" and Urban Art sales, Taylor focuses on advising collectors on emerging artists and collecting, selling, and buying blue-chip artwork. Part of Taylor's success has been his ability to bring new and fresh works to market while maintaining an extensive network of collectors, dealers, advisors, and institutions.
Taylor prioritizes trust and transparency in all his
professional relationships and has completed the coursework and examination in
the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. As an expert in the
art market, he has lectured widely, most recently at New York University and Sotheby's Institute of Art. Follow Taylor's work at Heritage on Instagram @TheTaylorCurry for an inside look.
Specialties include: Modern & Contemporary Art, Prints & Multiples, and Urban Art.
Jessica DuBroc
Jewelry
(214) 409-1978
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Jessica DuBroc is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and obtained her Graduate Gemologist degree through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 2014. Her early interest in the jewelry business was inspired by her family, particularly her great-grandfather, a diamond cutter originally from New York, and her grandfather, who operated a wholesale jewelry business in Dallas. Over the past 20 years, Jessica has gained extensive experience in various jewelry venues, including wholesale diamond and colored stones, high-end retail, gold buying, estate consignment, appraisal, and auction. Jessica began her tenure at Heritage Auctions, Dallas, as a Consignment Coordinator and Cataloger, moving into the Consignment Director and Head Cataloger position in 2015/2016.
Since April 2019, Jessica has served as the Director of Jewelry, New York. Jessica is a Senior member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA), the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) where she has served on the Mentorship Committee since 2023, GemX, GIA Alumni NY chapter, American Society of Jewelry Historians (ASJH), and the Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts (ASJRA). She has also been actively involved with New York City Jewelry Week (NYCJW) since 2023.
Additionally, Jessica completed a 15-hour course and examination on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) in 2021 and 2023, with certification effective through 2025.
Vera Prather
Jewelry
(214) 409-3021
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A Jewelry Consignment Director in Heritage’s New York office, Vera Prather has always had an abiding love for beautiful things. The native of Moscow earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and Ph.D. in Russian Language from Lomonosov Moscow State University with the goal of teaching it to others. Eventually, her affinity for fine jewelry developed from a hobby into a lifetime commitment once she pursued her passion with part-time work in that area.
Vera started her jewelry career at Hamilton Jewelers in Princeton, New Jersey selling high-end contemporary designer jewelry and luxury timepieces, which gave her a good understanding of today’s retail market. She also attended numerous trade shows to buy pieces for their top clients. She later joined Fred Leighton in New York, learning about antique and high-end vintage jewelry from the Art Deco period while dealing with exquisite pieces from Susan Belperron, Rene Boivin, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Vera’s credentials include special training as a Graduate Gemologist, Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and Certified Gemologist Appraiser, AGS; she also is a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA). Her favorite stones are turquoise and coral, and she loves old diamonds for their warm, hand-cut personalities.
Walter Ramirez
Fine & Decorative Art
(214) 409-1564
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A Consignment Director in Urban Art at Heritage Auctions’ New York office, Walter Ramirez fell in love with the auction business after joining the company in 2014 as an intern. The New York native earned both a BA and MA in Art History from Queens College before working at various galleries in New York City prior to taking his position at Heritage.
Walter has been involved with a number of consignments that have expanded the Urban Art department’s range of artists and materials, including a recent collection of material that has spanned a 12-month period. A cinephile and avid reader of 19th- and 20th-century absurdist and nihilist literature who also follows baseball, soccer, and basketball, Walter’s personal collections mainly consist of baseball cards and books.
Taylor Gattinella
Fine & Decorative Arts
(212) 486-3681
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Taylor Gattinella nurtured a lifelong passion for learning about art before joining Heritage as a Consignment Director for Fine & Decorative Arts. A double major in Art History and French at Southern Methodist University, she interned with a local auction house and was hooked from her first experience researching and handling important works of art.
Along with her time at Heritage, Gattinella has worked in the auction industry for over 10 years at houses such as Dallas Auction Gallery, Christie's and Phillips. This experience includes multiple areas of the business from Client Services to Marketing to specializing in the Fine Art secondary market. Her specialties include American Paintings & Sculptures, Decorative Arts, European Paintings & Sculptures, Modern & Contemporary Art, Prints & Multiples, and Western & California Art.
Exploring new cities and their museums to learn about the local history and art scene is one of her greatest passions. Based in Heritage’s New York City office, she also spends much of her time frequenting the city’s numerous art institutions.
Elyse Luray
Trusts & Estates
(214) 409-1369
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Lee Iskowitz
Sports and Memorabilia
(214) 409-1601
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Lee is a twenty year veteran of the sports card and memorabilia industry. Lee’s trading card expertise was cultivated through a four year tour as an expert for the Sportscard Guaranty Corporation (SGC), where he served as Senior Grader. Lee joined the Heritage team in June 2007 and now uses his specialized knowledge to maximize financial return for consignors of trading cards to Heritage Auctions.
Jason Simonds
Sports and Memorabilia
(214) 409-3002
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A lifelong baseball card collector, Heritage Consignment Director Jason Simonds’ affinity for collecting evolved from family tradition. The New Jersey native’s father was a bottle collector who gifted Simonds a 1975 Topps set for Christmas, which set his reverence for the hobby in motion. Simonds, his father, and brothers would go to flea markets every weekend while they were growing up, and in those settings, he would look for any baseball cards being sold.
After earning his Accounting degree from Penn State and later a Master’s from Rutgers, Simonds worked in public accounting for a few years. Most recently, he spent five years working in corporate finance for Christie’s, but he also has been a full- or part-time card dealer since his college days. His expertise is in post-WWII baseball cards, and he also enjoys collecting oddball and insert sets from the 1960s.
Aside from collecting, Simonds’ hobbies include running marathons — most recently the 2019 New York Marathon — and he enjoys traveling and hiking as well with his fiancée.
Joe Mannarino
Comics & Comic Art
(212) 486-2490
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Joe’s resume in the field of Comic character collectibles includes but is not limited to: Principal owner along with his wife and partner Nadia of All Star Auctions and Comics and Stories, premier dealers of rare Comic Collectibles for over 30 years. Co-owners of Comic Art Appraisal LLC where they have prepared formal appraisals for well over 1 million items, including the most significant institutions, collectors and professionals in the field. Exclusive Comic Collectibles Consultants for Christie's from 1992 to 1997, where they inaugurated and conducted seven record setting Comic Collectibles sales; representatives for some of the most prestigious artists to have ever worked in the medium, including the Estate of Winsor McCay, Frank Frazetta, Carmine Infantino, Jerry Robinson, Joe Simon, Angelo Torres and Mort Drucker to name a few. They have worked directly with professionals and collectors alike whose careers and interests have spanned the history of the medium to the present day.
Publishers and authors of The Christie's East Comic Collectibles catalogues; perennial special advisors and contributors to The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, the universally acknowledged reference work in the field; charter and founding members of the American Association of Comic Book Collectors Committee for Authenticity Certification and Grading; members of the American Institute Of Conservation for more than 20 years; author of the CAAR rating system as published in The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Comic And Animation Art, Gemstone Publishing, Oct. 2013 and authors of the definitive feature on high-end transactions in the Comic Collectibles field, Collecting At The Top, which appeared monthly in Gemstone Publishing Overstreet's FAN Magazine.
Nadia Mannarino
Comics & Comic Art
(212) 486-2491
View Biography
has an extensive background in both marketing and sales promotions. With a
Bachelor of Science degree from New York University, Ms. Mannarino was co-owner
of Comics and Stories, dealers of rare Comic Collectibles. She was co-owner of
All Star Auctions, a firm specializing in auctioning Comic Character related
items and was the Comic Collectibles Consultant for Christie’s East from
1992-1997.
In
addition, she has been a member of the prestigious American Appraisers
Association for over 10 years and is fully certified in the accepted appraisal
practices as required by the Association. As such she is the only Accredited
member of the Appraisers Association in the field of Comic Character
Collectibles. As agent for some of the most prestigious artists to have ever
worked in the medium, including Frank Frazetta, Mort Drucker, Carmine
Infantino, Joe Simon, Angelo Torres and Jim Steranko, she has been instrumental
in bringing the medium forward focusing also on up-and-coming artists and
storytellers.
Arman Salemi
Sneakers
(214) 528-3500
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Before coming to Heritage Auctions to serve as Consignment Director of Sneakers, Arman Salemi worked in property management for two and a half years. But he started collecting sneakers long before that. At one point, his collection comprised roughly 200 pairs. In addition to sneakers, Salemi is a fan of Silver Age comics, both of which he has collected for more than 13 years.
Salemi graduated from California State University Channel Islands with a bachelor’s degree in business, and he is currently working on his master’s. A native of Miami-Dade County, he speaks Farsi fluently and enjoys playing basketball and retro video games and spending time with his family as much as possible.
Michael Madrigale
Wine
(214) 409-1678
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Before joining Heritage’s Fine & Rare Wine Department as a New York-based Consignment Director, Michael spent 17 years becoming one of the most recognized sommeliers in the country. The Philadelphia native got his start in the wine business with a consultant position at the Burgundy Wine Company. A connection made through this job led to an opportunity to work on the 2002 Nuits St. Georges harvest in Burgundy, during which he spent an entire growing season of plowing, pruning, and picking. Michael’s experience in Burgundy created a respect for nature, the ecosystem and terroir, but most importantly, an understanding of the grueling work small growers endured to create an appealing wine.
After returning to the U.S., he accepted sales and management positions with Michael Skurnik Wines, Clicquot, Inc., and Henriot Inc. before returning to France with Butterfield & Robinson in Beaune to lead wine tours throughout the region. In 2007, Michael joined one of NYC’s finest restaurant groups, Chef Daniel’s Dinex Group, serving as wine director of Boulud Sud and Bar Boulud while tasting tens of thousands of wines over a nearly 10- year period. His industry recognition during this period included being named a James Beard Award Finalist for “Americas Best Wine Program” (2014); Americas Best Blind Palate (2010); Bordeaux Ambassador to the U.S. (2015-2018); Ambassador of Wines of Northern Greece (2015-2018); two-time Sommelier of the Year (Food & Wine, 2012) (Wine Enthusiast, 2013); and two-time winner of Wine and Spirits Magazine “Sommelier Scavenger Hunt” (2014, 2015).
Delia E. Sullivan
Ethnographic Art
(214) 409-1343
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Michael Hartman
Fine & Decorative Arts
(212) 486-2492
View Biography
Michael joined Heritage in 2024 as its Director of Modern Design in
New York. He was previously based in Philadelphia at Freeman’s | Hindman, where
he served in a variety of specialist roles and eventually as Head of Sale for
20th Century and Contemporary Design. During his time at Freeman’s, he helped
bring to market important works of early twentieth century and modern design,
from rediscovered Tiffany Studios church windows to custom furniture by George
and Mira Nakashima. His expertise in regional architectural history informed
the presentation of numerous examples of rare ironwork by famed Philadelphia
metalworker Samuel Yellin, and he helped tell the story of Pennsylvania’s
twentieth century craft tradition through additional offerings by Paul Evans,
Wharton Esherick, Phillip Lloyd Powell, and Harry Bertoia. Michael also served
as Head of Sale for notable single-owner craft and design collections,
including the contemporary craft collection of Robert L. Pfannebecker and the
personal collection of renowned modern designer Vladimir Kagan.
An avid collector of modern design objects from a young age,
Michael began his career with Lisa M. Reisman, a Philadelphia dealer
specializing in Art Nouveau and Art Deco decorative arts and works on paper.
After twelve years at the firm (including four years as Director), he worked as
an independent art advisor in the Philadelphia area. Michael received his BA in
the History of Art from the University of Pennsylvania and is a licensed
auctioneer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His personal collecting interests
include American Art Deco metalwork, vintage advertising posters, and design
publications from the early twentieth century.
Sarahjane Blum
Illustration Art
(214) 409-1549
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Sarahjane Blum
joined Heritage in 2024, bringing with her decades of experience as an art
dealer, cultural historian, curator, and writer. She is an internationally
acknowledged expert in the fields of Illustration Art, and photography.
Before joining Heritage,
Blum was the co-owner of Grapefruit Moon Gallery, an innovative and leading player
in the fields of Illustration Art and photography. There she carved
out an international reputation via media and live appearances, curated gallery
shows, and online engagement. Blum has been a featured
presenter at museums, academic conferences, and national collector events. Her
writing on film and culture has appeared in The
Brooklyn Rail, among other places. She
is the co-author of The Art of Pin Up
(Taschen Books, 2014)
and is featured in documentaries on Pin Up Art and Glamour photography. She
holds an MA in History from Georgetown University, where she completed
additional PhD coursework.
Robert Reynolds
Comics & Comic Art
(214) 409-3017
View Biography
Plucking his first comic, a copy of Adventure Comics #431, off the newsstand at Scott’s Grocery in Fort Wayne, IN set the wheels in motion for a lifelong love of comic books. By age ten, Reynolds had a weekly pull list at Broadway Comics and Baseball Cards. He would eventually work at the shop college summers and beyond, gaining access to the safe with the Silver and Golden Age comics he had only seen in the pages of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, of which he’s now a senior advisor.
After moving to New York City in the late 90s, Reynolds began studying the Golden Age comic market to make the wisest investment choices possible, opting for the best quality keys he could afford at the time. He joined Metropolis Collectibles in 2009 and was instrumental in taking their online auction platform, ComicConnect, to new heights. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Journalism, Reynolds wrote nearly every press release and promotional email in the fourteen years he was with the company.
Making the leap to Heritage Auctions in 2024, Reynolds, a skilled grader and appraiser, is overjoyed to be working alongside the top experts in the comics industry at the world’s best auction house.
Charlene Wang
Fine & Decorative Arts
Seth Armitage
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-3054
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Seth
Armitage brings over 20 years of experience in the art world, including two
decades at Sotheby’s, to his role as Co-Director and Senior Specialist in
European Art at Heritage.
A
graduate of Vassar College (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (M.A.), he is a
Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America and fluent in French.
Originally
from Derby Line, Vermont, Seth got his start through a college internship in
Christie’s Impressionist department, which sparked a lifelong passion for
auctions.
Among
many memorable consignments, he highlights the Jean Béraud works from the
Margaret Thompson Biddle Collection, which achieved $4.9 million at auction.
Based
in New York, he’s a dedicated home cook and enjoys helping clients build
meaningful collections.
Francis Wahlgren
Rare Books
(212) 486-3738
View Biography
An industry leader who joined Heritage as International Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts with 35 years of experience, Francis Wahlgren has handled some of the most important rare books and manuscripts ever sold at auction. He began his career at Christie’s in 1987 as a porter in the books department. During his 27 years with the firm, he rose through the ranks to become Department Head, followed by International Department Head, and finally International Director.
Since 2018, Wahlgren has acted as an independent consultant in the field, most recently doing work for American Book Prices Current and Hindman Auctions in Chicago. He also has been an auctioneer since 1991, and has appeared regularly as a specialist on Antiques Roadshow since 1995.
Wahlgren’s skills and knowledge have worked to establish an extraordinary track record that further positions Heritage to expand upon its status as a front-runner in the field.
Nick Nicholson
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-3014
View Biography
Nick
Nicholson joined the Business Development team at Heritage Auctions in October
2023. In this role, Nick supports the Trusts & Estates and Appraisal
Services teams. With more
than twenty-five years of experience at auction houses, galleries, museums, and
art advisory services, Nick is uniquely qualified to assist those requiring
expert assistance in Estate Planning, estimation and appraisal of their
collections of fine and Decorative art.
Nick began his
career at Christie’s in European Furniture and Decorative Arts before his
promotion to Specialist in Russian Works of Art, New York. He later served as
SVP and Division Head of Furniture and Decorative Arts at Freeman’s, overseeing
five specialist departments and performing generalist appraisal services for
each. Nick opened his own advisory and appraisal service in 2008, and as
a USPAP-compliant appraiser worked with private collectors, estate attorneys,
public institutions, and museums around the U.S.
Nick also serves as Heritage’s Senior Specialist
in Russian Works of Art overseeing Russian painting, sculpture, silver,
enamels, icons, porcelain, historical and Imperial ephemera, and works by the
famed court jeweler Carl Faberge, in which he is a recognized expert.
Nick has offered works from the collections of Landsell Christie, Jane
Englehardt, Rudolf Nureyev, Frank Sinatra, and Malcolm Forbes at auction.
Nick’s Russian curatorial experience includes exhibitions at the Brooklyn
Museum, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Icon
Museum & Study Center, the Russian History Museum, and the Tsarskoye Selo
Museum-Preserve among others.
Laura Paterson
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-3034
View Biography
A UK native, Paterson brings over 25 years of expertise in fine art photography to her role as Director of Photographs at Heritage Auctions in New York. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, she graduated with an MA (Hons) in History of Art before launching a distinguished career in the international auction world.
Paterson began at Christie’s in 1994, joining the Photographs Department in early 1995, where she remained for two decades, rising to the position of acting co-director and senior specialist. After a brief role leading U.S. print sales at Magnum Photos, she returned to the auction world as Director of Photographs at Paddle8, Bonhams (2017–2022), and Hindman (2022–2023).
She has curated and led numerous high-profile, record-setting auctions, including Photographs by Ansel Adams from a Private California Collection, Photographs by Irving Penn from the Collection of Patricia McCabe, The Curtis Studio, and Forever Young: Photographs from the Joe Baio Collection.
Recognized as a leading expert in Western photography, Paterson is a frequent contributor to art market publications and media, and has lectured extensively to students and collectors in both the U.S. and Europe.
Santosh Varghese
Wine
(214) 409-3041
View Biography
Santosh Varghese serves as Consignment Director in the Fine
& Rare Wine department at Heritage Auctions, based in New York City. He
brings a unique combination of global business expertise, deep industry
knowledge, and a strong background in strategic marketing within the fine wine
world.
Santosh began his career in investment banking in London and
New York before transitioning into the wine industry. He held key roles at
Zachys Wine Auctions as a Wine Specialist and Marketing & Public Relations
Manager, and later joined VINTUS, where he launched and led Fida Wine—the
company’s direct-to-consumer platform that connected collectors with rare and
sought-after wines.
At Heritage, Santosh focuses on building relationships with
collectors nationwide, sourcing world-class wine consignments, and contributing
to the continued growth of the firm’s reputation in the fine and rare wine
market.
He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Roots Fund,
a nonprofit committed to empowering underrepresented communities through
education, mentorship, and career advancement in wine—demonstrating his
dedication to fostering equity and access within the industry.
Rebecca Lax
Fine & Decorative Arts
(214) 409-3031
View Biography
With over 30 years of expertise in Contemporary and Post-War art, Rebecca Lax serves as Consignment Director of Prints & Multiples at Heritage Auctions in New York. A recognized authority in Contemporary and Post-War Prints, Rebecca also brings deep experience in unique works and contemporary photography, with a particular specialization in Pop Art authentication and valuation.
Throughout their career, Rebecca has held senior roles at top-tier auction houses, blue-chip galleries, and corporate art collections. Past experience includes positions with Bonhams, Auctionata, Paddle8, artnet auctions, and consulting projects for Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s. Rebecca also founded Lax & Associates LLC, a firm established in 2013 focused on sourcing and advising on Contemporary, Post-War, and Modern works—with an emphasis on editions.
Notable gallery tenure includes time with New York institutions such as Leo Castelli Gallery, Galerie Lelong, and Pace Prints. Academic leadership includes serving as Director of Finance for Columbia University’s LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies. As a corporate art consultant with Viart Corporation, Rebecca oversaw collections for major clients such as Goldman Sachs, Pitney Bowes, and Banco Santander.
Known for a track record of record-setting auction results, Rebecca brings strengths in strategic sourcing, market analysis, estate appraisal, and collection management. Their work is guided by a passion for excellence and a sharp understanding of market trends—making them a trusted advisor to private collectors and institutions alike.
Professional Affiliations:
Board Member, Lower East Side Printshop, NYC
Soon-to-be Member, Print Club of New York
New York City Estate Appraisal Services
Our New York City estate appraisers work with beneficiaries, estate executors, financial advisors, and individuals to appraise antiques, art, and other collectibles, personal property, or the entire estate. Whether for bankruptcy, estate tax, insurance, estate planning, gift tax, or trusts, we first determine the proper estate appraisal service for you. Of course, free auction estimates are available when selling an item or collection. Which appraisal is right for you? Learn more about Estate Appraisal Services. Meet our NYC estate appraisers
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