Department-Test

Max Brownawell's journey in the world of luxury handbags and auctions began over a decade ago. With a rich background as a Senior Specialist at renowned auction houses, Max has established himself as a leading authority in the handbag auction market. His contributions to the field have not only elevated the profile of luxury handbag auctions but have also enriched the broader conversation around luxury goods and collectibles. At Christie’s as the Head of Department for Handbags in New York, Max has infused the department with his innovative vision and deep market knowledge. He is committed to expanding Christie's reach in the luxury handbag market, developing strategic partnerships, and curating auctions that resonate with modern collectors and connoisseurs. Max's forward-thinking approach aims to further Christie's legacy as the premier destination for luxury handbag auctions. Living in New York City, Max's diverse experiences have shaped his holistic understanding of the luxury market. He is a frequent speaker on the evolution of the luxury handbag space, and his insights are sought after by top-tier publications in the fashion and financial sectors. At Christie’s, Max Brownawell continues to redefine what it means to be at the forefront of the luxury handbag and auction industry, bringing fresh perspectives and unparalleled expertise to collectors worldwide.

Rachel Koffsky began her career at Christie’s in 2014 as a Specialist in the Handbags & Accessories department. In 2017, Rachel relocated to London to bring the Handbags & Accessories department to King Street. In her role as Associate Director, Head of Sale, EMEA, Rachel presided over the first 100% white-glove live Handbags auction in 2019, and the launch of King Street online auctions, which also achieved 100% sold in its premiere season. In 2021, Rachel was named VP, International Senior Specialist, and was instrumental in bringing to market the first single-owner collections of Handbags to appear at auction, both in Paris and in Milan. Rachel is also responsible for the strategic partnership initiatives at Christie’s including the 2020 Marnifesto auction of runway pieces created by Marni, sold to benefit Alliance of Artists Communities and the Christie’s x Gucci Vault partnership. In 2022, Rachel was appointed SVP, International Head of Department, Handbags & Accessories. She currently oversees international strategy, in addition to advising clients on their Handbag collections. She is an expert in designer handbags and accessories, with extensive experience in Hermès, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Fendi and more. Rachel is also an auctioneer at Christie’s and has been at the podium/ on the rostrum in New York, London and Geneva. Rachel is from Connecticut and holds degrees in History of Art and Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. She frequently lectures internationally on the topic of the Handbag & Luxury markets, and has been featured or quoted in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, the BBC, FT How to Spend It, Barron’s, and more.

Kiara is the Associate Specialist of Handbags & Accessories. She assists with authentication, cataloging, marketing and client relations.She brings extensive luxury authentication and appraisal experience. Kiara has spent her career working primarily with handbags and small leather goods, starting as an intern at Marc Jacobs followed by working within the luxury resale space where she developed deep knowledge of Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior and more. She studied Fashion Merchandising and Marketing in college, however handbags have been lifelong passion and she continues to research and study them today.

Updated Content - assembled a world-class collection as diverse as his own talents and passions.... Based in Hong Kong, Winsy Tsang is Vice President and Head of Handbags & Accessories at Christie’s Asia Pacific. Winsy’s primary responsibilities include business getting, client advisory and market analysis to facilitate the growth of this rapidly expanding category in the region.

Under Winsy’s leadership, Christie’s has led the auction market for handbags and accessories in Asia, and the category has become one of the primary gateways for new and younger buyers. In 2022, Christie’s handbags and accessories sales in Hong Kong achieved a total of US$18 million, the highest annual sale total for the category globally. In 2021, an Hermès Himalaya Niloticus Diamond Kelly 28 sold in Hong Kong for US$515,416, becoming the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction globally.

Prior to joining Christie’s, Winsy was in charge of Merchandising at Louis Vuitton, overseeing its Leather Goods and Accessories business in North Asia. She has over 15 years of valuable experience in the luxury handbag field as a product specialist and buyer, and applies these skills to the curation of market enhancing sales at Christie’s.

Winsy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia.

曾慧思現為佳士得亞太區副總裁暨手袋及配飾部主管，常駐香港。她主要負責業務拓展、客戶諮詢及市場分析工作，以推動這個迅速發展的拍賣類別在區內的業務增長。

在曾慧思的領導下，佳士得一直引領亞洲的手袋及配飾拍賣市場，更令此拍賣類別成為吸納新晉及年輕買家的主要平台之一。2022年，佳士得香港手袋及配飾拍賣合共錄得1,800萬美元成交總額，為全球同類拍賣的年度成交總額之冠。2021年，一個愛馬仕喜馬拉雅尼羅鱷魚皮28公分內縫鑽石凱莉包在香港以515,416美元拍出，刷新全球手袋拍賣紀錄。

加入佳士得前，曾慧思主管路易威登的採購部門，專責北亞地區的皮具及配飾業務。作為產品專家及專業買手，曾慧思在奢華手袋領域擁有超過15年深厚經驗，如今更運用卓越技巧和豐富知識，協助佳士得策劃拍賣，拓展市場。

曾慧思畢業於澳洲墨爾本皇家理工大學，擁有經濟和金融學學士學位。

Jerry acquires his professional knowledge to luxury with his working experiences. Prior to joining Christie’s Hong Kong in 2019, Jerry worked in Hermès Taipei, allowing him to gain an in-depth understanding to the styles, materials and trends of luxury handbags. As the specialist of the department, Jerry assists the overall operation of the team. With Jerry’s creativity and attention to detail, Jerry is in charge of marketing and cataloguing for the department.

Jerry holds a master’s degree in hospitality management from Florida International University.

Vanessa brings with her a wealth of Luxury and Fashion retail experience. Prior to joining Christie’s Hong Kong, Vanessa started her career in Designer Bridal Room which offers luxury culture bridal brands like Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Karl Lagerfeld and Valentino. Vanessa has mastered diverse materials and fashion trends. Vanessa then joined other luxury brands at Louis Vuitton and Hermès in retail operations, demonstrating her passion in handbags. Gaining an in-depth understanding of luxury handbags and accessories from work experiences, Vanessa assists the department on inspection and authentication, cataloguing, consignment valuation and client relations. Having an eye for aesthetics and luxury fashion, Vanessa is also in charge of exhibitions and visual merchandising.

Lucile Andreani is Head of Department for the Handbags & Accessories Department based in Paris. Having joined Christie’s in 2013, Lucile has been working in Paris, London and Hong Kong before relocating back to Paris. She contributed to the first Handbags live auction in Europe held in Paris in March 2015, the launch of the London sales in 2017 and the launch of King Street online auctions as well as the first Single Owner Handbags sale in Paris in April 2022. Lucile is responsible for sourcing, curating and selling all EMEA based Handbags & Accessories Auctions, with an extensive experience in authenticating luxury goods. Lucile studied Law, History of Art & Economy and holds a master’s degree in the Art Market from La Sorbonne University in Paris. Lucile is fluent in French and English, and is conversational in German.