Look for the second installment of the Charleston Collects auction this month
When storied New York auction house Doyle opened its doors on King Street in 2023, the move felt less like an expansion and more like a homecoming. “There’s a deeply rooted appreciation here for history, art, and preservation,” says Emily Grimball Longley, Doyle’s regional director and director of client strategy. “So we knew we’d be stepping into a community that shared our values.”
Founded in 1962, Doyle has built its reputation on integrity, expertise, and storytelling. From its flagship gallery on the Upper East Side to locations in Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, and Boston, the second-generation, female-led firm has become a trusted name among collectors, fiduciaries, and estate advisers across the country. But Charleston, steeped in legacy, craftsmanship, and culture, offered something singular.
Longley, a Charleston native and veteran of Christie’s New York, played a central role in bringing Doyle south. “Charleston is an anchor in Doyle’s larger Southeastern strategy,” she explains. “It complements our existing presence in Florida, but also serves as a cultural and logistical hub for the Carolinas and the broader region.”
The gallery hosts consignment days, collector lectures, and preview exhibitions, drawing a steady stream of antiquarians, historians, and curious newcomers. “What’s most excited me is how incredibly warm and engaged the community has been,” says Longley. “People walk through our doors constantly, from Charleston and beyond, using us as a resource for valuations, guidance, and access to the auction market—whether they’re settling an estate, downsizing, or curious about a family heirloom.”
That sense of stewardship is reflected in the building itself. Doyle partnered with local talents Julia F. Martin Architects and landscape architect Glen R. Gardner to renovate the historic space. The result earned a Carolopolis Award and praise for its thoughtful approach.
Doyle’s inaugural Charleston Collects auction in fall 2024 underscored its regional focus, featuring artwork, jewelry, and decorative arts from local estates. Among the highlights were watercolors by Charleston Renaissance artist Alice R. Huger Smith. Doyle will hold a second installment of the Charleston Collects auction this month. “We lean into the region’s strengths,” says Longley. “But we also like to mix in modern and contemporary pieces. It’s about honoring the past while giving depth and variety to each sale.”
That mission resonates in a city where provenance is important and heritage holds sway. “In the South, legacy matters,” Longley says. “Doyle’s approach isn’t focused on valuing objects. It’s about honoring the people and stories behind them.”
By the numbers
