Gold, who has been in the auction business for more than 40 years, joined Lawrences in 1982 and went on to become a co-owner and director, with overall responsibility for the furniture, ceramics and Asian art departments.
He is understood to have sold his stake in Lawrences late last year when negotiations began with a former regional rival.
Duke's Expansion
Gold's new challenge will see him become Duke's area representative for Somerset - part of the firm's ongoing plans to expand their reach in the south west and beyond. Guy Schwinge, director of Duke's, told ATG the firm was "already seeing the benefit of Richard's involvement".
Duke's have also developed a working relationship with Thomas Woodham-Smith, the former director of Mallett who was briefly made a co-chief executive of The Fine Art Auction Group before leaving late last year.
Woodham-Smith has penned the introduction to a single-owner collection - largely assembled through Mallett and other London dealers - that Duke's will sell on February 18.
