Taught "to look, to see" with Roger Warner

Philip Astley-Jones started his career in 1965 with Roger Warner, regarded as one of the most famous and knowledgeable dealers of the modern era. Describing these formative years, Astley-Jones said that he was taught “to look, to see” and Warner’s remarkable talent for acquiring fascinating objects profoundly influenced his own approach to collecting and dealing. In 1972 he founded his own business, but his expertise was so highly regarded that he was quickly enlisted by Sotheby’s Chairman Peter Wilson to set up the auction house’s furniture department in Los Angeles; a time which regularly saw him frequenting the homes of movie stars and studio heads. After 5 years in Los Angeles, he moved on to Sotheby’s offices in Amsterdam, Paris and Monte Carlo. Following this, he dedicated almost twenty years to Hatfields Restoration, where he worked in both friendship and partnership with Philip Hewat-Jaboor. He later retired and continued to buy and sell, in his own words, “very quietly”, but according to Lloyd Morgan remained quite prolific in his predilection for collecting.

The Old Rectory, Aston le Walls

The collection has been housed until now in The Old Rectory, the quintessentially English home that Astley-Jones shared with Lloyd Morgan in Aston le Walls, Northamptonshire. Guided by their belief that a collection should be shown and enjoyed, the property provided a lens through which one could experience the pair’s distinct approach to curation and the incorporation of art and antiques into the home. As noted by Lloyd Morgan “every item always meant something to Philip. He could dream with it, he could touch it, he could learn about it, and he could tell others about it”.

Joe Robinson, Head of House Sales and Private Collections at Dreweatts, commented: “This sale honours the remarkable legacy and visionary spirit of Philip Astley-Jones, a rare connoisseur whose passion for life and its beauty set him apart. His distinctive perspective continues to shape and inspire the world of art and antiques, offering buyers a rare opportunity to embrace his celebrated eye for excellence and bring his esteemed expertise into their own homes and collections.”

Auction Details

Wednesday 9 April 2025, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Auction coming soon!
Sign up to email alerts

Further information:
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com 
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com