David Battie
{{Short description|Antiques expert}}
{{for|the footballer|David Batty}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = David Battie
| honorific_suffix = FRSA
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = David Anthony Battie
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1942|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| monuments =
| other_names =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{ubl|Antiques expert|Director at Sotheby's auction house (1965–1999)|Writer/editor|former TV presenter (Antiques Roadshow (1977–2020)|Public lecturer}}
| years_active = ?–2020 (retired)
| employer =
| agent =
| known_for = Expert on ceramics, specialising in oriental works
| notable_works =
| style =
| television = Antiques Roadshow
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| relatives =
| awards =
| website =
}}
David Battie FRSA (born 22 October 1942) is a British retired expert on ceramics, specialising in Japanese and Chinese artefacts.{{cite web | url=http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/browse/b/13844/David%20Anthony%20BATTIE.aspx | title=David Battie, Esq | accessdate=March 10, 2011 | work=Debrett's People of Today | publisher=Debrett's, UK}}
Career
After attending art school, where he studied graphic design, Battie worked for Reader's Digest magazine for three years.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv-celebrity.co.uk/antiques/david-battie.htm |title=David Battie |accessdate=March 10, 2011 |publisher=tv-celebrity.co.uk}} In 1965, he joined the auction house Sotheby's. He worked in the Departments of Ceramics and Oriental Works of Art and was appointed a director in 1976. He retired from Sotheby's in 1999.
After leaving Sotheby's, he became editor of Masterpiece magazine and has written many books on pottery and porcelain. He also undertakes public speaking.{{cite web |url=http://www.menspeakers.co.uk/speakerdetail.asp?speakerid=22 |title=David Battie F.R.S.A. |accessdate=10 March 2011 |publisher=menspeakers.co.uk}}
He is probably best known for his many appearances on the long-running BBC television programme Antiques Roadshow, in which he appeared for 43 years, from the first series in 1977 until his retirement in 2020.
Personal life
David Battie married Sarah Francis, a glass expert from Sotheby's, in 1972. The couple have two daughters.{{Cite web |title=The David & Sarah Battie Collection, Asian Art, Antiques & Historic Textiles |url=https://www.dominicwinter.co.uk/Auction/Details/battie23-the-david--sarah-battie-collection-asian-art-antiques--historic-textiles/?au=833&pn=10&g=1 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.dominicwinter.co.uk}}
In 2012 Battie broke his leg in a fall. While in hospital he contracted an antibiotic-resistant infection and ultimately remained in hospital for six months, undergoing eight operations, including four skin grafts. Battie suffers from the genetic disorder haemochromatosis and has also developed Type 2 diabetes.{{cite web |last1=Staples |first1=Alison |title=David Battie, star of BBC'S Antiques Road Show says 'No, I'm not dead – but I was nearly' |work=Antibiotic Research UK |date=12 March 2015 |url=http://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/david-battie-star-of-bbcs-antiques-roadshow-writes-to-support-antibiotic-research-uk/ |access-date=12 February 2024}} He is an ambassador for the charity Antibiotic Research UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/antiques-roadshow-presenter-david-battie-antibiotic-resistance-nearly-cost-leg/|title=Antiques Roadshow presenter David Battie: "Antibiotic resistance nearly cost me my leg"|work=Antibiotic Research UK |date=4 June 2017|publisher=|access-date=12 February 2024}}
In 2022 and 2023 a number of Asian art, ceramics, antiques and historic textiles from the David & Sarah Battie Collection, were auctioned by Tennants and by Dominic Winter Auctioneers. The pieces included those from Qianlong period and from the 17th to 19th-century.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-06-16 |title=David Battie ceramic collection in sale |url=https://antique-collecting.co.uk/2022/06/16/david-battie-ceramic-collection-in-sale/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Antique Collecting |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=the-saleroom.com |date=2023-10-19 |title=Dominic Winter Auctions {{!}} The David & Sarah Battie Collection, Asian Art, Antiques & Historic Textiles |url=https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/dominic-winter-book-auctions/catalogue-id-srdom10226 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.the-saleroom.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=David Battie: A Study Collection |url=https://auctions.tennants.co.uk/auction/details/battie-david-battie-a-study-collection/?au=14005&g=1 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=auctions.tennants.co.uk}}
Bibliography
- The Price Guide to 19th and 20th Century British Pottery (1975)
- Sotheby's Encyclopedia of Porcelain (editor, 1990)
- Sotheby's Encyclopedia of Glass (coeditor, 1991)
- Reader's Digest Treasures in Your Home (consultant editor, 1992)
- Understanding 19th Century British Porcelain (1994)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bookfinder.com/author/david-battie/ List of published works] on Bookfinder.com
- {{IMDb name|1591210}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battie, David}}
Category:English antiques experts
Category:British non-fiction writers
Category:BBC television presenters
Category:Male non-fiction writers
{{UK-tv-bio-stub}}