Meet Our Experts

David Duggleby

Director | Auctioneer | Art Consultant

David established David Duggleby Auctioneers and Valuers with his wife, Jane, in 1996. Originally a small enterprise in Scarborough, managed by the duo alone, the company has expanded to a large operation with locations across Yorkshire, including valuation offices in Beverley and Harrogate; our sister auction house, Duggleby Stephenson of York; and three Movers and Storers operations based in Scarborough, Hornsea and Wetherby.

David and Jane have now taken a step back from the daily operations of the business, but David still consults on fine art valuations and takes to the rostrum for our Fine Art Sales.

Melanie Saleem MA, FGA, DGA

Head of Harrogate Valuations | Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Melanie studied History of Art at the University of Leicester, before going on to complete her Masters in Study of the Country House. Whilst there she volunteered in galleries and museums, and a period of experience in the well-known auction house, Christies, sparked her love for auctions world.

Melanie developed a keen interest in jewellery valuations and went on to gain her FGA & DGA through the Gemological Association of Great Britain. She has worked at several established houses, including Capes Dunn, Fellows, Tennants and Elstob, before joining our team to head up valuations in our Harrogate office.

Dannielle Blackledge MA

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Dannielle studied her BA in Art History and went on to gain her Masters in the subject at UCL in the country’s capital. She started her career as a valuer in the Antiques & Silver department at Fellows, before joining the team here at Dugglebys.

Dannielle specialises in ceramics, especially early English porcelain, but loves anything from the 18th & 19th century when it comes to ceramics, silver and collectables. She spends much of her time curating our bi-annual Country House Sale and especially enjoys the process of discovering hidden treasures and researching consignments to help customers learn more about their items. Dannielle’s expertise in fine ceramics makes her a highly valuable asset to our decorative objects department.

Jessica Tarver MA

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Jess started her career in museum curation before moving into valuations for auction. She studied History at University and went on to gain her Masters in Museum & Heritage Management. For ten years she managed museum collections and curated exhibitions, before bringing her wealth of knowledge to our team here at Dugglebys.

Jess specialises in militaria, taxidermy & entomology, and several of our more niche markets. She is also an integral part of our decorative objects department and has a vast range of experience in valuing a variety of antiques & collectors’ items. Jess is passionate about continuing to master her craft and takes pleasure in every opportunity to discover and research new items that come through our door.

Ian Beilby

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Ian is a seasoned expert in horology and the intricate world of clocks and pocket watches. His journey into the realm of timepieces began as a teenager, when he started to make clocks himself, initially to the designs of the late John Wilding and later to his own designs.

With extensive experience in clock repair and restoration, Ian has become a well-respected authority in the field. Throughout his career, he has contributed numerous articles on horology to various esteemed horological, antique, and engineering publications and has authored several comprehensive books on the subject. We welcomed him to the team at Dugglebys in 2019, where he continues to be an invaluable resource for the business, and both sellers and buyers in the world of timekeeping.

Coralie Thomson MA

Auctioneer | Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Coralie has a BA in Classics and Ancient History and went on to study her MA in Classical and Ancient Studies at the University of Amsterdam, where she held an internship at the prestigious Rijksmuseum. She specialises in fine art, furniture & antiquities, and joined the team at Dugglebys in 2021, adding another dimension of expertise and knowledge to our valuations department.

Coralie loves the opportunity the auctions world gives her to uncover and handle incredible pieces of art and furniture, each with their own unique story. She is also found at the rostrum and presides over several of our regular and specialist sales.

Chloe Mckenna

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Chloe grew up in the world of antiques, with two generations of antiques dealers before her. She spent many of her childhood years attending auctions, and from a young age was hooked on the spectacle of sale day. By the age of thirteen, she had her own jewellery stall, selling antique jewellery and developing her knowledge in the trade, something that would further her passion in the field.

Chloe’s career at Dugglebys has been marked by her versatility and deepening specialisation. She has gained extensive experience across various departments, allowing her to develop a broad understanding of the antique business. Her expertise lies in silver, cameras & photography, and collectors’ toys, with a particular passion for antique silver.

Chloe is a natural people person and initially trained and qualified as a midwife before pursuing her passion in auctions. She loves talking with customers and exploring the interesting stories behind the objects they bring in for valuation, as well as the magic of discovering unique and unusual pieces only the antiques world can offer.

Andrew Mcmillan

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Andrew joined our team at Duggleby Stephenson of York in 2018 with a fabulous back- catalogue of 40 years’ experience and knowledge. Beginning his career in Auction Houses in the south of England, he made his way north to join the valuations team at Boulton & Cooper and worked there for many years before the partnership formed that would become Duggleby Stephenson.

Andrew has expertise in valuing a wide range of items and specialises in silver, ceramics and collector’s items in particular. He relishes the prospect daily, that even after all his years in the business, there is always something different that comes through the doors.

Emma Knott

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Emma began her journey at Dugglebys in 2016 as a trainee valuer, and has gone on to become a highly regarded member of our valuations team. She studied Art and Textile Design at college and went on to gain her BA in the subject at university. Working within our Decorative Objects department, her primary specialism lies within 20th-century ceramics and glass, although she also has a particular fondness for Japanese and Chinese art.

Emma thrives on researching consignments and unravelling the stories behind how customers acquire them - adding depth and meaning beyond their physical appearance. She loves witnessing the surprise and delight on customers' faces when they receive a high appraisal for an item they had previously overlooked or underestimated; “It's a gratifying moment that highlights the value of understanding and appreciating the history and craftsmanship behind each object.”

Holly Hammond

Specialist Valuer & Catalogue Curator

Holly began her career with Dugglebys during a work experience placement while pursuing a BA in Curating and Art History at the University of York. Her knowledge and passion for fine art, and the world of antiques generally, quickly earned her a full-time position as a trainee valuer. Since then, she has consistently refined her skills and expertise within the company.

Holly has a particular interest in British and international modern art, with their diverse cultural perspectives and innovative styles. She loves the challenge of researching works that are difficult to attribute and collaborating with vendors to discover the stories behind them. Her knowledge, research skills and determination make her a valuable asset to our Art department and the wider team.