FEATURED IN
SECTION 02 / COMMITMENT
“We help collectors, institutions, and investors build and refine exceptional collections with precision, discipline, and confidence. By combining deep market access, independent expertise, and discreet execution, we simplify complex decisions and protect long-term value.”
SECTION 03 / THE STORY
03.1 / ORIGIN
Matthew Rubinger entered the luxury market as a teenager, buying and selling high-end handbags at a time when few viewed them as serious collectibles. Serious collectors and exceptional objects already existed, but the market itself was fragmented, opaque, and poorly structured. That early experience shaped a career focused on bringing greater expertise, transparency, and professionalism to the collector market.
03.2 / EARLY CAREER
Matthew helped establish luxury handbags as a global collector category across the auction and secondary markets. After launching the category at Portero, one of the earliest authenticated resale marketplaces, he built the handbags business at Heritage Auctions and opened its New York office. In 2014, he joined Christie’s to establish and lead the firm’s global handbags business, expanding the category across New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris, Dubai, and Shanghai while setting numerous world auction records.
03.3 / BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE
As his responsibilities expanded, so did the scope of his leadership. Matthew went on to oversee global client experience across all categories and regions before leading Christie’s worldwide marketing and digital transformation, including the firm’s accelerated digital evolution during COVID and the development of fully integrated digital salerooms for its marquee evening sales.
Along the way, he worked across virtually every collecting category and advised on many of the world’s most important collections, including The Collection of Peggy & David Rockefeller, The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection, and The George Michael Collection.
03.4 / RECENT
Most recently, Matthew served as Chief Commercial Officer of 1stDibs, leading the commercial strategy of the world’s largest online marketplace for luxury design and collectibles. In 2026, he founded Matthew Rubinger Advisory to combine nearly two decades of experience across auctions, marketplaces, luxury commerce, technology, and collecting into a single independent advisory practice.
03.5 / NOW
Today, MRA advises collectors, institutions, and businesses across acquisitions, collection management, private sales, deaccession, and strategic advisory. The firm combines global market access with deep operating experience to help clients make better decisions in increasingly complex collector markets.
SECTION 04 / RECOGNITION
ACCOLADES
| GAME CHANGERS | RUBINGER |
| FORBES 30 UNDER 30 | ART & STYLE |
| HK TATLER | 10 TO WATCH |
| GLOBAL LEAD | LUXURY DIV. |
SPEAKING
| NYT INTERNATIONAL LUXURY CONFERENCE | |
| FT BUSINESS OF LUXURY SUMMIT | |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL - PERSPECTIVES | |
| PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN - LECTURER |
SECTION 05 / SELECTED WORK
Over two decades, Matthew has had the privilege of working on some of the most significant collections and auction events in the luxury secondary market.
| AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS |
Notable sales include world-record Hermès lots at Christie’s and Heritage Auctions, among them a shiny Rouge H Porosus crocodile 30cm Birkin with 18k white gold and diamond hardware, and a unique 32cm matte Geranium Porosus crocodile and black Togo Sellier Kelly with feet. |
| LANDMARK COLLECTION SALES | Matthew has advised on the deaccessioning and sale of significant private collections across multiple categories, including works formerly associated with major estates and international collectors. |
| SELECTED AUCTION EVENTS | The George Michael Collection · The Ann and Gordon Getty Collection · The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller |
"Matthew's insight into the market is unparalleled. His approach combines the rigor of an archivist with the strategic mind of a veteran trader. He is the first person I call for any significant acquisition."
— PRIVATE COLLECTOR, NEW YORK"The level of discretion and intellectual honesty MRA brings to the table is rare in this industry. They truly act as a partner, protecting the collector's interest above all else."
— FAMILY OFFICE PRINCIPAL, LONDON