Olympia Auctions has announced the appointment of David J. de M. Williams as senior consultant within its antique arms and armour department, further consolidating its position as the only London auction house holding regular sales in this specialist area.
Williams brings with him more than 40 years of expertise, having previously served as head of department at both Christie’s and Bonhams. He will work alongside Olympia Auctions founder Thomas Del Mar, a leading figure in the world of antique arms and armour.
“On entering the fascinating world of auctioneering, I soon discovered that my main interests met in the antique arms and armour department,” said Williams. “I had found my niche – and happily a subject that has kept me occupied for the last 40 years or so.”
Williams’ interest in antique arms was shaped early in life through a passion for shooting and a deep admiration for the decorative craftsmanship of historical firearms, especially flintlocks and percussion guns.
His auction career began at Christie’s, where he worked under Peter Hawkins and renowned consultant Claude Blair, formerly keeper of metalwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum. During his 15 years at Christie’s, Williams oversaw the sale of notable collections including those of J.C.L. Knapton, Wilfrid Ward, Eugen Nielsen, and the armoury of Their Serene Highnesses the Princes zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck.
He joined Bonhams in 1997, where he handled significant consignments from the collections of W. Keith Neal, D.H.L. Back, Henk L. Visser, Richard R. Wagner Jr., Per T. Norheim, and others. His work has also supported institutions such as the Carl Beck Foundation.
Between them, Williams and Del Mar have overseen the sale of many of the most important arms and armour collections to have come to market over the past four decades.
A liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, Williams serves as honorary curator and sits on the vetting committees of the TEFAF and LAPADA art fairs. He also advises the Royal Armouries in Leeds and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. He is a long-standing member of both the Meyrick Society and the Arms and Armour Society and currently serves as honorary secretary of the Rowland Club.