Meet the team
Amati is an online auction house specialising in the sale of stringed musical instruments.
Sarah Buchanan – Director
Sarah runs the day-to-day operations of the Amati business. She oversees our large single owner collection auctions, some of which have achieved sales of an incredible 100%.
James Buchanan – Director and Specialist
James is an expert in examining and valuing stringed musical instruments. He has worked for Bonhams, Christies, and was a founding member of Brompton’s. In terms of experience, nothing can …
Kai Dase – Specialist
For more than twenty years, Kai Dase has been a violin maker and expert. He ran one of the UK’s busiest restoration workshops for nearly fifteen years and trained many restorers who now work all over …
Simon Howes – Specialist
Simon studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and now has a successful career as a professional violinist. He travels the world recording and performing with all manner of different ensembles and …
Charlott Fagergård – Client liaison manager
Charlott is originally from Sweden but relocated to the UK to pursue a career in good food and events management. For over four years, she owned and managed a highly successful gastropub and restaurant in …
Oliver Bell – Auction manager
Oliver manages the auction cataloging process from start to finish. He is always on hand at Amati viewing days to help our buyers with any questions about buying musical instruments through auction.
Judy Payne – Financial manager
Judy is Amati’s Finance Department. She joined Amati from a merchandising company, where she helped turn it from a start-up to a successful business. In the past, she has also worked as Office Manager and …
Carles Riba – Client services
You are most likely to meet Carles with an Amati specialist at valuation days around Spain. He will be translating, as well as enjoying meeting people and seeing their stringed instruments.
Ralph Windle – Photographer, Shipping co-ordinator
Ralph is the man who takes all the superb photographs of the instruments that come through Amati. He is also in charge of coordinating the safe shipping of your instruments around the world.