Duke’s to sell the contents of Thomas Kerr’s Provencal home… Renowned retired interior designer and antique dealer who is selling the art collection from his magical house, Mas St Esteve, in Provence.
News-Antique.com - Feb 16,2011 - The Collection of Thomas Kerr
The Contents of St Esteve, removed for auction in the UK.
Auction date: 3rd March 2011 at 10am
About the man – Thomas Kerr
Renowned retired interior designer and antique dealer who is selling the art collection from his magical house, Mas St Esteve, in Provence.
Over his career TK, as he is know to his friends, developed his own unique signature style of Continental furniture, quirky objects and great works of art.
He established his first business in 1977 with a £10,000 loan from Lloyds Bank. At first the shop was in Islington, then Chelsea Green, and latterly trading as L’Encoingure in the Kings Road until his retirement in 2006.
Thomas worked on interior design projects around the globe including Hong Kong and America.
About the collection:
An eclectic mix of Thomas Kerr’s signature style including antique mirrors, furniture and fine paintings. Here are several items which give a flavour of the sale:
Lot 223: Jan van Teylingen (died 1654) – A portrait of a gentleman wearing a white lace collar, oil on canvas, 23 ½” x 19 ½”. Estimate £2000-4000. A very decorative Old Master portrait from the 17th century.
Lot 231: Attributed to Dominic Serres (1722-1793) – The Battle of Copenhagen, oil on canvas, 26 x 38”. Estimate £8000-16000. A first-class marine painting depicting what many believe to have been Nelson’s greatest battle.
Lot 305: An Italian 17th century carved wall mirror. Estimate £3000-6000. A rare survival of a type of mirror which probably came from Southern Italy. The cherubs climbing around the outside give a wonderful sense of movement.
Lot 409: An Italian Baroque commode with painted decoration, 50” wide. Estimate £3000-6000. Painted furniture is very popular because it is so decorative and this is a great example.
Why is a collection from France being sold in the UK?
The strong market in the UK for decorative antiques and good access to the global market.
Duke’s responded quickly to the enquiry about this collection and had someone in France within 24 hours to view it.
The Dorchester auction house offered Thomas Kerr what he wanted - to sell it as a single collection and market it as such.
Duke’s reputation for selling single owner collections. The firm’s recent Melpash Court sale was one of the most successful house sales by a provincial auctioneer on record.
