Young, who began his career at Messenger May and Baverstock in Godalming in 1988, has previously worked at Sotheby’s, Phillips and Freeman’s of Philadelphia.
An expert on the BBC Antiques Roadshow since 2011, he founded the Asian department at Lyon & Turnbull in 2012. The sale of the £3.6m Thornhill Xuande (1426-35) mark and period blue and white stem cup in Hong Kong was a career highlight.
Young will join Duke’s as head of the Asian department (replacing the short-lived appointment of consultant Adam Schoon), but he will also take on the role of managing director working with partners Guy Schwinge, Garry Batt and Sarah Gordon Wild.
Schwinge commented: “He combines a great depth of knowledge with the dynamism essential to win business,” adding that the firm believes “there will be further opportunities to expand as the London rooms continue to move away from the middle market”.
Young, who is now based in the south-west, said Duke’s plans and recent investment in a new saleroom building “underscores their commitment to future growth and development. I am excited to join them on this journey and to build on their past successes.”
