The contents of Barton Court, the home of Sir Terence Conran for over 40 years, go under the hammer on Wednesday 14th December 2022 from 10am. The sale of 394 lots takes place live from Bonhams on New Bond Street, London.
Sir Terence (1931-2020) achieved a great deal in his 88 years; he began his professional career working at the Festival of Britain. He was a product designer, retailer, founder of Habitat, The Conran Shop and the Design Museum in Shad Thames, writer, restauranteur (Bibendum on Fulham Road and The Bluebird on Kings Road), art collector, wine drinker, chain smoker of cigars and an all round bon viveur.
I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with Sir Terence at a luncheon hosted by the owners of Whitehead & Sons where he was the special guest.
The items coming up for sale are an eclectic collection as would be expected. Just imagine owning something that once belonged to the great man himself; a stack of books that he authored, maquettes of furniture he designed or smoking accessories and cigars that were famously ever-present between his fingers.
View the entire sale catalogue here.
Buyer’s premium:
- 27.5% of the hammer price on the first £20,000; plus
- 26% of the hammer price from £20,001 and up to £700,000; plus
- 20% of the hammer price from £700,001 and up to £4,500,000; plus
- 14.5% of the hammer price above £4,500,000
The buyer’s premium and all other charges are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate, currently 20%
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses Bonhams recommends Alban Shipping (01582 493 099 / enquiries@albanshipping.co.uk).
Lot 52: A collection of three model glasshouses
Early 20th century and later. The largest made with a painted pine frame and glass panes with an interior fitted with slatted potting benches, together with a smaller painted glasshouse, and a metal framed glasshouse, the largest: 46cm wide, 33cm deep, 34.5cm high (18in wide, 12½in deep, 13½in high) (3)
Estimate: £600 -£800
Lot 71: A large teak ‘T’
Possibly in Times New Roman font, 49.5cm wide, 7.5cm deep, 54cm high (19in wide, 2½in deep, 21in high). Used in the exhibition Taste at the Boilerhouse in the V&A.
Estimate: £100 -£150
Lot 79: Books: Sir Terence Conran
A selection of books written by or related to Sir Terence Conran, approximately 100 vol., including: CONRAN (Terence), Essential: The Back to Basics Guide to Home Design, Decoration & Furnishings, multiple volumes including Small Spaces, Colour, Bathrooms etc., circa 2010– CONRAN (Terence), Alcazar to Zinc: The Story of Conran Restaurants, 2001– CONRAN (TERENCE), Terence Conran on London, 2000,– CONRAN (Terence) and BAYLEY (Stephen), The A-Z of Design, 2007, CONRAN (Terence), The Essential House Book: Getting Back to Basics, 1994, etc.
Estimate: £500 -£600
Lot 132: ‘The Grand Central Station’, the original Bibendum walnut, silver plated and marble waiter station from Michelin House
Designed by Sir Terence Conran. A unique piece, with four shelves on chromium steel tubular supports above a marble top with rounded ends and central cupboard doors flanked by open shelves to each side, 260cm wide x 65cm deep x 281cm high, (102in wide x 25½in deep x 110½in high)
Estimate: £5,000 -£10,000
Lot 133: A group of Bibendum and Michelin related items and memorabilia
Comprising: a drawing by Ricca Kawai on the occasion of the 20th birthday of the Bibendum restaurant; a book on the history of Michelin posters; a cast iron Michelin Man, circa 1925, painted on his sash: Reg 67548 Detroit; various plastic and resin Michelin man figures; an ashtray; a sugar bowl with a Michelin Man surmounted on the cover, and a large painted plastic Michelin Man table lamp shade, circa 1965 (missing all fittings), the large plastic Michelin Man table lamp shade: 30cm wide, 20cm deep, 48cm high (11½in wide, 7½in deep, 18½in high) (9)
Estimate: £400 -£600
Lot 160: A large collection of copper kitchenalia, cooking pots and pans
Late 19th century and later. To include: a selection of saucepans, varying sizes; two moulds; a two-handled basting dish, etc., the basting dish: 58cm wide, 43cm deep, 13cm high (22½ in wide, 16½ in deep, 5in high) (23)
Estimate: £1,000 -£1,500
Lot 174: A collection of six maquettes of furniture designed by Sir Terence Conran
Comprising: a bar stool, designed for the Cantina Del Ponte restaurant; a stepped shelf unit; a steel and oak armchair; a chair made in foam board; a refectory-type table, made in oak ply and similar to the ‘Litton’ design; and a further chair, the refectory table model: 24cm wide, 12cm deep, 9cm high (9in wide, 4½ in deep, 3½ in high) (6)
Estimate: £500 -£700
Lot 214: A large collection of cigar humidors and smoking accessories belonging to Sir Terence Conran
Including: a 1930s brass cigarette dispenser modelled as a cocktail waiter rising to enclose cigarette holders; a teak and brass mounted humidor; a twelve inch General de Gaulle cigar; three leather cigar cases; a cigar ashtray with engraved Michelin Man head; a mahogany and brass mounted humidor; two aluminium humidors designed by Sir Terence along with the maquette for the design made out of foam and paper; as well as a number of cigar boxes, including some with cigars; and a framed print entitled ‘CIGARS’, the cigarette dispenser: 11.5cm wide, 11.5cm deep, 18.5cm high (4½ in wide, 4½ in deep, 7 in high) (qty)
Estimate: £2,000 -£3,500
Lot 268: A large collection of eighteen shaker brushes
Late 19th century and later. Of typical design with turned handles and horsehair brushes, together with a later stand, of various sizes, the largest: 6cm wide, 6cm deep, 36cm high (2in wide, 2in deep, 14in high) (18)
Estimate: £300 – £500
Lot 338: Moët & Chandon Esprit du Siècle NV
Bottle No. 50; slightly scuffed label. 1 magnum owc (lacking lid). This champagne, said to be the rarest ever made with only 323 magnums produced, was made in the 1990s to celebrate the new millennium and is a blend of the 11 best vintages of the 20th century; 1900, 1914, 1921, 1934, 1943, 1952, 1962, 1976, 1983, 1985 & 1995. These wines were all disgorged and assembled before being fermented for a third time and matured again on the lees creating a unique wine of extraordinary complexity, history and craftsmanship.
Estimate: £5,500 -£6,500
