Our Specialists

Adrian Alan is a leading worldwide authority in exceptional 19th-century decorative arts, with a distinguished career spanning over six decades at the highest levels of the international art market. As Founder and Director of Adrian Alan Ltd, he has established a reputation for sourcing, researching and presenting outstanding works of furniture, sculpture and objets d'art to leading collectors, institutions and museums worldwide.

With a particular expertise in the great makers of the Belle Époque, Adrian has developed an unrivalled knowledge of French art furniture, including the work of François Linke, Alfred Beurdeley, Henry Dasson, Paul Sormani and Emmanuel Zwiener. His expertise extends across the decorative arts of the 19th century, from the revival of Neoclassicism and the opulence of the Second Empire to the artistic innovations of the late 19th century. He is renowned for his ability to identify works of exceptional quality, uncover forgotten histories and bring important pieces to the attention of the international market.

Through Adrian Alan Ltd, he continues to champion the finest examples of 19th-century craftsmanship, exhibiting at leading international art fairs including TEFAF Maastricht, where the gallery presents museum-quality works supported by extensive research and expertise. Among the highlights of Adrian's career is the acquisition and presentation of François Linke's celebrated Le Grand Bureau, awarded the Médaille d'Or at the Paris Exposition Universelle 1900.

Hayley Jacobs is a Director of Adrian Alan Ltd and daughter of founder Adrian Alan, combining a lifelong passion for art and antiques with a background in accountancy to help lead one of the world's foremost dealerships in nineteenth-century furniture, sculpture, and works of art. Having grown up immersed in the antiques trade, she brings both commercial expertise and an instinctive eye for exceptional quality.

Working closely with private collectors, interior designers, and international clients, Hayley is known for her approachable, client-focused style and her ability to source exceptional works of lasting significance. A career highlight was recreating François Linke's celebrated 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle stand at the Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair, reuniting masterpieces not seen together since the original exhibition and showcasing Adrian Alan's internationally recognised expertise in Belle Époque furniture.

James Graham is a Director of Adrian Alan Ltd and a specialist in nineteenth-century European furniture, sculpture, and decorative arts. With more than two decades at the gallery, he has developed particular expertise in French Belle Époque furniture, exhibition pieces, European sculpture, and gilt bronzes, advising private collectors, museums, and institutions worldwide. Having studied furniture history under David Jones at the University of St Andrews, he also possesses extensive knowledge of English and British furniture.

Renowned for his connoisseurship and discerning eye for quality, James has handled many important works to pass through the gallery, including museum-quality pieces by François Linke, Hamo Thornycroft, Giovanni Battista Lombardi, Baccarat, and other leading makers. His expertise in attribution, provenance, and historical context has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor to collectors seeking exceptional works of art.

Giles Forster is a Director at Adrian Alan and an internationally recognised specialist and leading authority in 19th-century decorative arts, with over twenty years' experience at the highest level of the international art market. His responsibilities at Adrian Alan include acquisitions, research, client advisory and conservation liaison, with a particular passion for the rich artistic diversity of the 19th century, from Neoclassicism and Historicism to Japonisme and Orientalism.

Before joining Adrian Alan, Giles spent sixteen years at Christie's, where he progressed from Specialist to Head of Department, 19th Century Decorative Arts, before being appointed Director of Decorative Arts, Christie's London. During his tenure he oversaw major cross-category sales, achieving record-breaking results for important works by François Linke, Emmanuel Zwiener and others. Throughout his career he has combined market expertise with rigorous scholarship, making significant discoveries in provenance and attribution that have enhanced the understanding and value of exceptional works of art.

At Adrian Alan, Giles continues to source and present museum-quality furniture and sculpture for the world's leading collectors and institutions, including important discoveries exhibited at TEFAF Maastricht. In 2026, he was honoured to secure the sale of a rare table by François Linke to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris — the first piece of furniture by Linke to enter a national museum collection.