On Wednesday 23 September, Dreweatts was pleased to offer a private collection from a London apartment in our Park View auction. Amassed over forty years, the collection drew inspiration from the Grand Tourists of the 18th century, reflecting a particular interest in architecture, antiquity and the work of leading Regency cabinet makers. Resisting strict categorisation, the collection brought together objects from different periods and cultures with a sense of freedom and discernment. Its character lay in these unexpected juxtapositions, revealing a collector drawn less to a particular period or category than to the qualities, histories and visual relationships between individual pieces.

The auction attracted international interest from around the world, with people bidding online and on the phone. As a result, the auction achieved strong results, totalling £690,000, 187% of the pre-sale estimate. Particular highlights included a brass-inlaid ebony and calamander breakfront bookcase attributed to George Oakley (Lot 91), which made £120,900; as well as a 19th century Sinhalese calamander canopy bed (Lot 78) which achieved £76,450.

Here we take a look at some of the auction highlights.