With almost 20 years of experience, Charles-Wesley Hourdé is an antique dealer specialised in ancient arts of Africa, Oceania and America.
He notably directed Christie's African and Oceanic art department, and contributed as a consultant at Sotheby's.
With a gallery situated in Paris, he is a member of the Compagnie Nationale des Experts, the Syndicat National des Antiquaires and a friend of the Amis du musée du Quai Branly and of the Centre Pompidou.
Expert, dealer, author, he is at your disposal for all acquisition, sale, brokerage, expertise, advice, and research.
origins
Raised in a family of important Parisian dealers and collectors, Charles-Wesley Hourdé is a native of the art market. After opening a stand in the flea market in 2005, he founded as early as 2006, simultaneously to the opening of the Quai Branly Museum, a gallery specialized in African, Oceanic and pre-Columbian arts in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
From the origins of his gallery to 2010, Charles-Wesley Hourdé has participated to several international art fairs including in Paris (Parcours des Mondes, Arts Saint-Germain-des-Près), in Bruxelles (Bruneaf), in Köln (Cologne Fine Art and Antiques), New York (Tribal and Textile Arts Show), San Francisco (Tribal and Textile Arts Show), and Palm Beach (The Palm Beach Art and Antique Show).
During these five years he regularly organized exhibitions at his gallery, such as L’art africain, vous connaissez?, Pouchous, Le Pérou des Mochica, Une collection paticulière valant son pesant d’or, L’Ouest Africain.
He thus developed a precious experience that leaded him to join Christie’s in 2010. As the African and Oceanic art Department Sales Director, he contributed to multiply by three the average annual sale results over a period of five years, and took part in establishing several new world record prices. As a fine connoisseur of the artworks and their history, he enjoys writing academic studies for the sale catalogues.
His passion for research led him to be interested in the famous Japanese cabinetmaker Kichizô Inagaki who became the subject of his first article published in a specialized magazine.
Rich of this experience, he decided to become independent again and to focus himself on new projects, more personal, while remaining consultant for auction houses.