Founded in 2017, Vagabond was established with the intention of sourcing pieces that surprise and delight. Chaffer’s approach considers not only the quality, integrity and provenance of an object, but also its ability to provoke curiosity and offer something unexpected. He brings to the antiques trade a perspective shaped by a decade working in menswear, applying the instincts and disciplines of fashion to the world of collecting and dealing. This fashion-forward approach is evident in the visual merchandising of his gallery in Petworth, West Sussex, as well as in the stands he creates for major international fairs, including the upcoming edition of Frieze Masters. His commitment to continually creating something fresh and engaging has quickly established Vagabond as a distinctive industry presence.

The collection, drawn from across the European decorative arts canon, is not defined by a particular period or category. Instead, it brings together a diverse range of fine European antiques, encompassing sculpture, paintings and decorative objects dating from the first century AD through to the modern day. Highlights from the upcoming auction include a Gogotte Formation dating from the Oligocene Period; a set of baroque style chairs upholstered in a 17th century verdure tapestry; and a monumental sundial from the 18th century.

The sale also encompasses pieces from Chaffer’s own home, a 17th century farmhouse close to Petworth, which he shares with his wife, Lily, and their two children and an ever-growing menagerie of animals. The home they have created is an extension of this approach, combining Chaffer’s penchant for Italian furniture, architectural fragments and sculpture with Lily’s love of fabrics, wallcoverings and colour to create a family home rich in character yet inherently liveable. Pieces come home from buying trips, others leave for fairs or the gallery; something bought as stock can end up staying with them for years, while occasionally an object from the house finds its way back into the business. It is a fluid, ever-changing relationship with the things they deal in - one in which the boundaries between home, collection and gallery are deliberately blurred.

Commenting on the auction, Joe Chaffer said, “As Vagabond prepares to move into a new gallery space, and we as a family embark on a move of our own, the timing felt right to share our vision more widely through an auction with Dreweatts. As the autumn international fair calendar returns, the sale offers both longstanding clients and those discovering Vagabond for the first time an opportunity to explore our distinctive approach to collecting and the breadth of objects that continue to inspire us.”

Elaborating on this, Joe Robinson, Head of House Sales and Private Collections at Dreweatts, commented, “Having seen Vagabond go from strength to strength since its inception, it is a pleasure to offer a collection so clearly informed by the distinctive ethos and vision that Joe and Lily have built around the business. Their instinct for the unexpected, coupled with a discerning eye for quality and character, has resulted in a collection that transcends conventional periods and categories. We believe it will engage collectors across disciplines, from those who live with contemporary art to established collectors of classical objects, while offering the opportunity to discover pieces that can bring a sense of surprise to any collection.”

Auction Highlights

Auction Details

Tuesday 17 November, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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