About Us

This business owes itself not only to my innate love of beautiful and unusual things but also to my 20+ years at Christies where I encountered an extraordinary group of hugely talented individuals – my colleagues. This was, truly, my spiritual and artistic home and this business is dedicated to those times:- Beauty, Truth and Honesty.

In tribute to those times, IU have created here in Sherborne not an auction house – obviously – but a place where people can buy and sell beautiful things with integrity.

In 1976 Christopher won a Russell Scholarship to study Philosophy at St. Andrews University. While there he diversified his degree by also studying Ancient, Medieval and Modern History with Arabic Studies and Fine Art (the History of Art). He gained an M.A.

In 1982 he joined Christie’s headquarters in St. James’s as a porter. He subsequently became the head of the Modern Sporting Gun department and a Director of the company. He moved in 2002 to Bonhams in Knightsbridge to re-start their Gun Department where he was also made a Director.

He is author of three books on guns and gunmaking and author of numerous articles for a number of magazines including Country Illustrated and Shooting Gazette. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and a Freeman of the City of London.

His passion for fine objects is innate and was nurtured at Christie’s but it really started when, as a child, a distant family member’s collection of curios was stored for a time in the annexe of the family home. He hasn’t looked back since.