Select a region
More than a thousand bidders from all over the world sought to get their hands on pieces from a late islander's rare art and antiques collection – which sold for over £1 million at a London auction last week.
A total of 567 lots from The George Farrow Collection went under the hammer at Roseberys last Friday in what auctioneers called a “significant” and “popular” array of rare and historical items.
The sales totalled £1,071,000, with the standout sale a 17th-century North Italian marble relief of Marcus Curtius which sold for £91,240 – far above its estimate of £1,000.
Pictured: One of the lots was a Berlin Chinoiserie Tapestry which depicts "The Emperor's Banquet", and is attributed to the workshop of Jean II Barraband and Charles Vigne.
A northern Italian tapestry was also acquired by the Museo di Palazzo Ducale in Mantua, Italy, and will be hung in its Hall of Arms.
Mr Farrow’s Italianate villa in Anne Port, which housed the collection, is still on sale with Hunt Estates for £14 million.
Anna Evans, Head of Sales at Roseberys London, said it had been a "privilege" to be entrusted with the sale of Mr Farrow’s collection.
"The sale provided a window into one man’s life-long passion for collecting beautiful works of art from across the globe," she added.
Pictured: Inside the late Mr Farrow's estate at Anne Port.
The collection featured artefacts on par with those found in world-renowned institutions, including pieces from the V&A in London, The Met in New York and the LA Mayer Collection in Jerusalem.
Born in Greenwich in 1916, Mr Farrow was raised in London. He left school at 16 and embarked on a career in the building industry, qualifying as a chartered surveyor through evening classes.
During the Second World War he was stationed in London, where he assisted the south-east division of the RAF with logistical matters.
After the war he took over a small property development firm and soon grew to become one of Britain’s largest private landlords.
After retiring, his travels brought him to San Remo and Monte Carlo, but he returned to his British roots and settled with his family in Jersey, renovating Anne Port Farm to its current state.
He lived there until his death in 2001, aged 84.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.