Chiswick House & Gardens Trust Charity Auction - 26 September

Chiswick House Charity Auction 26 September 2020

2

Welcome I’m delighted to welcome everyone to our auction in aid of the House and Gardens. When so many other organisations have had to close their doors during lockdown, we’ve been fortunate to stay open so that our community has access to much-needed green spaces. As a charity, we have a responsibility to serve the needs of people in our community and we are proud to offer what we can.

We have, however, lost a lot of revenue that we normally earn from weddings and events, as well as visitor charges to the house which has had to be closed, and daily takings in the café. For the year this will amount to some £500,000.

To help off-set some of this deficit we launched our #WeLoveChiswickHouse campaign at the end of May with the aim of raising £120,000 in 120 days. The auction comes at the end of these four months. It has been a truly collaborative project, between ourselves and all those who have donated the amazing experiences and items being offered. Many of the lots have been generously given by our neighbours – friends, and businesses in Chiswick and nearby – who appreciate the importance of this cultural jewel in West London. Others have been minded to support because of their historic connections with this place – the stay in an original villa by Palladio in Italy courtesy of The Landmark Trust for example, or a tour of Chatsworth with the Duke of Devonshire himself.

All the money raised from this event will go towards the aim of re-opening of the House with an exciting new interpretation, reviving our successful volunteer gardening programmes which will improve mental health and employability skills for young people and adults, and re-engaging with the many other activities that make this corner of West London so vibrant and meaningful for us all, but which have had to be curtailed during the pandemic.

We wouldn’t be able to hold this auction without the generous support of our auction lot donors, loyal Patrons, Trustees and our newfound friends who are joining us for the first time. I would like to extend a special thank you to Adrian Biddell and Chiswick Auctions for their pro bono support, as well as everyone at Chiswick House and Gardens for their hard work in bringing us all together for this exceptional event.

I very much hope that you will find something that captures your imagination in the auction. I wish you the best of luck in securing the lot of your dreams.

With very best wishes,

Xanthe Arvanitakis Director

3

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUCTION 1. The sale of the lots will result in contracts being made between Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and the Buyer. The Buyer shall be the person with the highest bid accepted by the auctioneer.

7. If identical absentee bids are received and there is no higher bidder during the live auction, it will be sold to the person whose bid has been received and registered first.

2. The auctioneer has the right to refuse any bid and to advance the bidding at his absolute discretion and in case of error or dispute, to put an item up for bidding again.

8. Subject to the discretion of the auctioneer, the striking of their hammer and/or the exclamation by the auctioneer “SOLD� marks the acceptance of the highest bid and the conclusion of the contract of sale for the item between the buyer and the charity.

3. Statements by the organisers in the charity descriptions or made orally, or in writing elsewhere regarding the description of an item are merely statements of opinion and are not to be relied upon as statements of fact. The charity and the organisers of this event are not responsible for the correctness of such statements nor any errors of description or for any faults or defects in the lots.

4. Illustrations are for guidance only.

5. Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of any lot and the matters referred to in the lot description, including making themselves aware of terms specific to each lot which are printed in the on-line catalogue only.

6. If a prospective buyer gives the charity instructions to either bid on his behalf or to bid on the telephone we will use reasonable efforts to do so, provided such instructions are received in time.

4

9. All bidders must be pre-registered, either at www.chiswickauctions. co.uk to bid online or via development@chgt.org to either bid on the telephone or to leave an absentee bid or to bid in person. In so doing the bidder must provide their name, telephone number, email and postal addresses and payment details in advance of the sale.

10. All lots are to be paid for in full within 48 hours of the sale. Failing payment in due time the charity is entitled to sell the lot to the highest under bidder. No lot may be collected prior to payment in full.

11. Payment should be made either in cash, cheque payable to Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, credit or debit card or by bank transfer to: Sort code: 40-03-21; Account No: 51873903.

12. These terms and conditions are subject to English Law.

Chiswick House Charity Auction Saturday 26 September 2020, 3pm Viewing: Viewing on-line at www.chiswickauctions.co.uk and at Chiswick House & Gardens by appointment only on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September.

To view lots and hear more about the auction first-hand please email: development@chgt.org.uk or call 07582 649 589 Bidding during the sale: Due to very limited space on the day at Chiswick House, we encourage you to bid online, by telephone, or through leaving an absentee bid.

Bidding online: to bid online please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk Bidding by telephone: to register to bid by telephone please email development@chgt.org.uk Absentee bids: if you cannot bid on line or by telephone, you can leave an absentee bid that will be executed on your behalf. To leave an absentee bid please email development@chgt.org.uk Payment: Payment should be made either in cash, by cheque payable to Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, via credit or debit card or by bank transfer to sort code: 40-0321, account no. 5187 3903 by the end of Monday 28th September.

Proceeds: No buyers premium is being levied by Chiswick Auctions who are offering their services gratis. All proceeds therefore from this auction will directly support Chiswick House & Gardens.

5

6

With special thanks Our immense gratitude goes first and foremost to all the individuals and businesses who have so generously given art works, experiences and opportunities to be offered in the auction to support Chiswick House & Gardens in these challenging times, in particular: Marthe Armitage Clare Balding Sir Peter Blake Tony Bowden Ruth Cadbury MP Colicci Duke of Devonshire Jane Clark Dodgson Dukes Meadows Golf, Tennis & Ski Club Food Show Charlotte Fraser Fuller’s Brewery Simon Gompertz Grove Park Deli Giffords Circus Sam Hellyer The Hogarth Club

Ben Johnson Karen Knorr The Landmark Trust La Trompette Councillor Tony Louki George and Jane Nissen Peter Oborne Olympic Studios Roko Health Club The Royal Academy Sipsmith Distillery Will to Win Wint and Jacky Taylor Jeremy Vine Ben and Dinah Welsh, Certus Communications Ltd The Young Family And those who wish to remain anonymous

As well as our wonderful donors, there are many others who have given of their time, talents and resources in preparing this fundraising event. These include: Charlotte Appleyard, Thom Bridge, Charlie Hiscocks, Marian Lindsay, Mairead Murray, Stephen Riley, Caroline Stanford, Giles Stumpe, Rebecca Teare, Georgina Wald and others who prefer to remain anonymous.

This event could not have happened without the vital support of Chiswick Auctions, including Adrian Biddell, Victoria Childs, Kim Evangelista, Harry Fletcher, Nick Greenwood, Stephen McCauley, Leigh Osborne, Olivia Singh and Madeleine White.

Equally, we would like to thank John Armstrong and the great help of Chiswick House Friends, as well as unstinting support from the Chiswick House & Gardens team, in particular Fazina Blanchard, Alexandra Burns, Rozanna Colquhoun, Zak Hulstrom, Geraldine King, Ian Peacock, Nicki Thomas and Mil Vukovic-Smart.

7

8

9

1

Marthe Armitage Chiswick House signed lino cut printed in colours 81 x 56 cm (32 x 22 in) Trained at the Chelsea School of Art, Marthe has specialised in printing from the 1960s, designing wall papers that she hand prints in her studio on Strand-on-the Green. A past Master of the Art Workers Guild, since 2004 she has been represented by classic interior design specialists Hamilton Weston.

In 2014 an exhibition of her work was held at Hogarth House. She is the subject of a book on her life and work written by Alison Harley, published last year: The Making of Marthe Armitage, Artist and Patternmaker.

Of Chiswick House and her work Marthe comments: I have known and walked in the grounds of Chiswick House nearly all my life. For many years it seemed to be so scruffy and unloved, but it gradually came to be realised what a very special and important house it is. What a joy it was when it was opened and we could see the stunningly beautiful rooms and spaces; a house, not for living in but for music and parties and I like to think that perhaps Handel himself might have visited and even played there.

This linocut which I did in the early years of this century was an attempt to depict it. But I would really like to have another 20 years of life to do a series of linocuts of the statues, the trees, the bridge, the conservatory‌ £400 - 600 Donated by the artist

10

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

11

2

Burlington House invites The Royal Academy requests the pleasure of your company at an exclusive private view and tour behind the scenes for four Re-built by the 3rd Earl of Burlington in the early 18th century, Burlington House on Piccadilly, was the first building in England to be designed along Neo-Palladian lines. It has been home to the Royal Academy since 1867.

Private View: The RA is generously inviting you and three of your guests to jump the queue and avoid the crowds by attending a special private view for one of their upcoming exhibitions. Choose your privileged access from the RA’s programme of forthcoming shows, such as the major retrospective of the work of leading post-War painter Francis Bacon which opens to the public on 30th January 2021.

Bespoke Tour: Recently transformed by the linking of the main buildings on Piccadilly with exciting new exhibition spaces which lead on to Burlington Gardens to the north, your tour will explore the new layout. You and your three guests will see the Fine Rooms designed by William Kent, the Reynolds Room where on 1st July 1858 Charles Darwin presented his theory of evolution for the first time in public, and visit the Royal Academy Schools among a number of other historic parts of the building that are not normally open to the public.

Purchased by the 1st Earl of Burlington in 1667, the ‘Architect Earl’s’ remodelling of the house fifty years later was inspired by the Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, whose treatises on classical architecture had recently been republished. Burlington worked with the architect Colen Campbell and designer William Kent. Among many of the notable innovations he made in the design of the main south façade was the inclusion of the distinctive tripartite ‘Venetian’ windows – still to be seen to this day. They were the first such Neo-Palladian windows to be seen in England, and their form has since become one of the distinguishing features of the style. Shortly afterwards Burlington developed his Neo-Palladian theories further in the construction of his country retreat: Chiswick House. £100 - 200 Donated by the Royal Academy 12

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

3

Teatime Temptations Afternoon tea for eight in the Conservatory Relax in the early 19th century splendour of the Grade I Listed Chiswick House Conservatory. Built by the 6th Duke of Devonshire, and home to our world-famous collection of heritage camelias, you and your seven guests will be served delectable goodies made just for you.

What could be more quintessentially English? From finger sandwiches to scones with cream and jam, truffles and chocolatedipped hazelnut Florentines – there is nothing that won’t tempt you. This Afternoon Tea for eight will be catered by our exclusive caterer Food Show. £300 - 500 Tea donated by Food Show

13

4

Ben Johnson Royal Academy Fine Rooms signed Ben Johnson (lower left); inscribed Study for Painting (proof) (lower right) inkjet print 50 x 70 cm (19¾ x 27½ in) image size I have studied and visited many Palladian buildings and produced over 15 paintings based on these investigations. Burlington has been a long-term fascination and when the Fine Rooms at the RA were reopened around 2005 I was given access and permission to photograph the space. I spent many hours looking and working on studies for a possible painting, and this print is almost the final image for the painting. I put the missing mirrors back in the frames and extended the enfilade to include two extra rooms. Although very happy with this new view I never, as yet, made the painting. But Burlington and his work and his collaborations with other architects still fascinate me. For the first few months of ‘lock down’ Chiswick House became the place I visited every day.

Ben Johnson is prized for the forensic level of detail with which he examines and represents his subject matter, whether embarking on the vast cityscapes for which he is known, or considering the minutiae of the elements that comprise the different interiors that capture his (and our) imagination.

His work has been widely shown across the UK, and abroad. In 2008 he was lauded for his panoramic cityscape of Liverpool when it was the European City of Culture. In 2010 he completed the vista across Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall from the roof of the National Gallery, as part of his residency there. Also fascinated by the arts of the Islamic world, and the complex patterns of its architecture and interiors, he has completed an important series of large scale paintings of Jerusalem, and recently visited Iran to explore the rich variety of mosque decorations there.

His work has been exhibited in the Institute of Contemporary Art, London; the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; the National Gallery, London; the Art Institute, Chicago; Kunsthalle, Tübingen, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid. He has collaborated on many occasions with the architect Norman Foster, including at the Venice Biennales of 1991 and 2012. He was the subject of a retrospective of his work at the City Museum and Art Gallery, Southampton in 2015. £600 - 800 Donated by the artist.

14

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

15

5

The Glories of Gelyce A day trip, up the Thames with a picnic lunch for six Take to the Thames in consummate style, and enjoy a day in Gelyce, one of the most elegant launches ever to grace the river. Built by Camper & Nicholson in 1930, this stunning 50ft vessel was the luxury tender for Sir Thomas Lipton’s legendary J Class yacht Shamrock V that challenged for the Americas Cup before the War. Cruise in Gelyce with five of your lucky guests – family, friends, colleagues, clients – from Windsor to Maidenhead via historic Boulters Lock and on to the wide elegant reaches of Cliveden Deep for a picnic lunch (generously offered by the Grove Park Deli), and – if so inclined – a refreshing swim, before heading back to Windsor.

Constructed from solid teak with mahogany interiors at the Camper and Nicholson yard in Gosport, Hampshire, Gelyce takes its name from the first and last letters of the wives of the three Nicholson brothers who owned the shipyard, the evocative Gertie, Lucy and Constance.

Found rotting away by Wint Taylor the present owner and donor of this lot, in 2015 the boat was the subject of a complete restoration. The hull was fully overhauled, and it was fitted with a reconditioned 1950s Rolls Royce 175 horsepower aluminium diesel engine capable of 28 knots. The superstructure and interior have been returned to their former glory.

Wint says: Gelyce is particularly historic, and it’s particularly beautiful. Truly the last word in boat building of a bygone age, and an icon of ‘30s design. It’s had some fantastic bums on the seats as, being a yacht tender for Shamrock V, it was used for spectator duties at some of the most celebrated pre-War regattas.

Undoubtedly, in its day, she hosted a succession of celebrities on-board - royals, famous actors, all sorts. I am delighted to be able to offer a day in this beautifully designed piece of floating history, all to support another glory berthed in west London – Chiswick House.

The award-winning Grove Park Deli is a small but perfectly formed local Deli in the heart of Grove Park, Chiswick. Established over 20 years ago, it has built up a very loyal and appreciative clientele who come from far and wide to sample its delicacies. It specialises in fresh, home-cooked food and offers bespoke catering for both private and business customers. The deli’s picnic is accompanied by wine and champagne donated by Jane Clark Dodgson. £800 - 1,200 Gelyce donated by Wint and Jacky Taylor.

Picnic donated by Grove Park Deli.

Wines donated by Jane Clark Dodgson.

16

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

17

6

Laura Birdsall Vase hand blown glass height: 36 cm (14 in) Laura Birdsall is deeply fascinated by the small details within nature, a tiny seed pod, a beach pebble or the edge of a fish’s fin. The micro worlds she finds are often the catalyst for her striking and beautifully tactile vessels.

Of her work she says: I make blown glass vessels with strong sculptural qualities. Continuing themes in my work are the relationship between the interior and exterior of a vessel and decoration that is integral to the form. As a maker I experience the hot material as soft and luminous. I try to preserve these qualities in the finished work. By layering transparent and opaque colours, I create vibrant and translucent objects that change with natural light, through the day.

Her pieces take time and patience, the layers of transparent and opaque colours are all subject to meticulous hand cutting and polishing to create vibrant and translucent objects that play with natural light.

Birdsall is one of a very small number of artists to have been selected for all three of the British Glass Biennale Exhibitions at Stourbridge as part of the International Festival of Glass. She was the recipient of the Charlotte Fraser Prize whilst studying for her MA at the Royal College of Art and in 2006 won the Best Newcomer award for the prestigious Bombay Sapphire Prize which toured to New Zealand, France and Italy. Her work has been shown in Switzerland, Estonia, Holland, the USA and extensively across the UK. The present vase is an early work, purchased by Charlotte Fraser at Laura’s degree show.

Charlotte is happy to offer it now to raise money for the current cause. Of Chiswick House she says: It’s always been a pleasure for me to visit Chiswick House and I have many happy memories of musical evenings held in the wonderful Grand Saloon. £150 - 250 Donated by Charlotte Fraser

18

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

19

7

Ducal Delights, Chatsworth to Chiswick A Guided tour of Chatsworth House with the Duke of Devonshire, afternoon tea, and a three-night stay on the Chatsworth estate Chatsworth in Derbyshire is one our greatest country houses, filled with treasures, the surrounding gardens and park laid out by Capability Brown. The estate has been in the Devonshire family for 16 generations, and its contents added to by each. The present 12 th Duke of Devonshire, is as passionate about the art and collecting as any of his predecessors.

Chiswick House and Gardens was owned by the Duke’s family for close to 175 years. Inherited by the 5th Duke on the death of the 3 rd Earl of Burlington in 1753, who had designed and built it, he and the 6th Duke subsequently left their marks, including demolishing the old Jacobean house, and adding the distinctive wings for living in (now also demolished). Between them they also laid out the gardens, largely in the form they are to this day. The 6th Duke built the conservatory and started Chiswick’s world-famous collection of camellias. Many of the trees and shrubs in the garden now were planted by the Devonshires, including the magnificent cedars of Lebanon. But from the 1860s the property was largely let out. Many of the pictures, furniture and decorations that graced the interiors of Chiswick House were moved to Chatsworth, and in 1929 the family ceded the house and grounds to Middlesex County Council.

Speaking of his family’s long custodianship of Chiswick House the Duke of Devonshire comments: I am very proud of my forebears’ ownership of Chiswick House. It was through their love for the place, their careful management and their vision in the 18th and 19th centuries, that the house and gardens have become the cultural idyll in West London that is loved and cherished by so many today. I am happy, therefore, to be part of the present fund-raising efforts, and delighted to offer the opportunity for the highest bidder and five guests to join me at Chatsworth for a tour of the house and our art collection here, including of course many of the pieces that were once at Chiswick.

Works in the Chatsworth collections range from manuscripts to silver, furniture - including examples by William Kent, ceramics ancient and modern as well as paintings and drawings by a host of familiar names.

As well as the tour, the Duke is offering a three night mid-week stay in one of the holiday cottages on the Chatsworth Estate, and afternoon tea in Flying Childers Restaurant. £800 - 1,200 Donated by the Duke of Devonshire.

20

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

Photographs: Chatsworth House Trust

21

8

Beekeeping for Beginners A foray for five into the delights and demands of cultivating bees If you’ve ever wondered how honey is made, what it’s like to open a hive and see bees beavering, or quite how bees produce a honeycomb and don’t get sticky, now’s your chance to learn! This beekeeping experience is a half-day workshop for a family or a group of up to five people. It will include a mix of discussion in the classroom and demonstration in our apiary at Chiswick Gardens.

Rebecca, our beekeeper, will introduce you to the way we work with the bees’ natural instincts and how bees provide humans with a useful indicator as to the health of our environment. Participants (properly suited!) will spend time examining bees close-up and identifying some of the aspects of bee behaviour. This will include the lifecycle of the individual bee; the lifecycle of the honeybee colony; bee cooperation and communication; the needs of the honeybee colony; beekeeping as a collaboration and what causes the phenomenon of hive collapse; examples of beekeeping methods, techniques and equipment.

Rebecca says, ‘I have been the beekeeper at Chiswick House for 9 years and it is a privilege to be able to look after the bees in such a beautiful setting. I do hope you will join me to discover the wonder of bees in the beauty of Chiswick House’s kitchen garden.

Workshop participants will to take home a jar of honey each.’

Due to the lifecycle of our bees and the best time to visit, we will offer this experience in Summer 2021. £100 - 200 Donated by the Chiswick House Beekeeping team

22

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

9

With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row Gardening consultancy for five Have you been wondering how to make your garden grow? The gardening team at Chiswick House and Gardens are here to help. They are offering a half-day workshop for up to 5 people with one of our garden managers.

Come with your questions and get advice on gardening problems; get suggestions on how to design your own garden at home; discover the best nurseries for purchasing plants; take home cuttings that you can grow at home.

Book in your spot to visit our Gardens and get ‘sage’ advice from one of our gardening experts. Although our Kitchen Garden is currently closed to the public, we’ll make an exception just for you. Go behind-the-scenes with one of our award-winning gardeners to soak up some practical top tips on how to look after pelargoniums and camellias and growing your own fruit and vegetables at home.

You may already have caught our gardeners on Chiswick House’s Wednesday Webinar series, when our team went live with a Q&A, thanks to Chiswick Buzz. The gardening team are now local celebrities, so here’s your chance to have your very own time with them to get your gardening questions answered. £100 - 200 Donated by the Chiswick House Gardening team

23

10

Ramble with Clare A walk and lunch for up to four people with broadcaster and author, Clare Balding Enjoy a walk with ‘national treasure’ Clare Balding, local resident, frequent visitor to Chiswick House and Gardens, and much decorated broadcaster and author. Join Clare on your own, with a friend, partner or bring the family for a walk through the estate at Chiswick House and Gardens, followed by a scrumptious lunch at the café.

Clare says: Chiswick House is one of my favourite haunts in London. It offers a haven for families, walkers, runners and dogs. I love the mixture of wild woodland, cultivated gardens, landscaped parkland, vast lawns for picnics and the lake full of birdlife. I am really looking forward to joining the family of the highest bidder on a walk around the grounds, having a good natter over lunch at the café and offering a signed copy of my latest children’s book. It will be great fun!

Learn all about Clare’s life and work – from being maternity cover on Countryfile to covering six Olympic games (including being the BBC’s stand out reporter during the London Olympics in 2012), commentating on the annual Boat Race, presenting Ramblings on Radio 4 and being the star of The Clare Balding Show on which she has interviewed many of the top names in sport, from Frankie Dettori to Lewis Hamilton. Find out too about her love of horses, the countryside, and how she got to be such a legend at the top of her game. Finally, you’ll also take away a signed copy of Clare’s latest children’s book The Racehorse Who Learned to Dance.

Clare won a BAFTA Special Award and RTS Presenter of the Year Award for her expert and insightful coverage of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She is also a best-selling and award-winning author of five books, and an ardent campaigner for better coverage of women’s sport. £250 - 300 Donated by Clare Balding

24

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

25

11

Karen Knorr Contemplation of the Essential Forms Signed, numbered 3/5 and dated 2005 on a label on the reverse Cibachrome glossy print 91 x 91 cm (35¾ x 35 ¾ in) 99 x 99 cm (39 x 39 in) – in frame Exhibited: Manchester, Holden Gallery & London, PM Gallery, Pitzhanger Manor, Wundercamera, 2013-2014 Shot in Chiswick House, the present work is one of a series of 17 large scale Cibachrome photographs Karen completed in 1986 presented in black frames with engraved brass plaques alluding to received ideas of beauty and taste in British culture.

Titled Connoisseurs, the series was shot at five locations: Osterley House, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as Chiswick House. Featuring both inanimate elements and staged events, Karen uses captions and accompanying text in the series to slow down consumption of the image. The project was one of her earliest essays to explore cultural heritage and its ideological underpinnings, since when questions concerning postcolonialism and its relationship to aesthetics have become a recurring theme in her work.

The Connoisseurs series, including the present image, was first unveiled in Paris in 1987 at La Remise du Parc Galerie and La Musée D’Art de la Ville de Paris. Since then the series has been exhibited widely including at Riverside Studios (1987); Camerawork (1989; catalogue edited by Olivier Richon and John Berger); Ikon Gallery (1989) and Salama Caro Gallery, London. It has also been variously published including in Karen Knorr, interviewed by Antonio Guzman, Nantes 1989 and Karen Knorr, Marks of Distinction, Thames and Hudson, London, 1991 Born in Germany, raised in Puerto Rico and educated in Paris and London, Karen is widely represented in galleries in New York, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Rome, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Currently Professor of Photography at the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey, her work has been the subject of multiple exhibitions, and commissions and projects have taken her around the world. She won the Vth International Photography Pilar Citoler Prize in 2011, was nominated for the Deutsche Börse in 2011 and 2012, and the Prix Pictet in 2012 and 2018. Her work is in collections internationally, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Tate, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. She was appointed an HonsFRPS in 2018. £1,500 - 2,500 Donated by the artist

26

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

27

12

Two loaves better than one Financial well-being with Simon Gompertz Apply fresh thinking to your finances, and pick the brains of Simon Gompertz by digging deep into his many years’ experience as Personal Finance Correspondent at the BBC. Simon is offering a session on financial wellbeing in a Covid-challenged time.

BBC News Editor and presenter Simon Jack recently tweeted of Simon: I don’t think it’s possible to beat him for clarity and authority on everything personal finance. Mortgages, insurance, the minefield of pensions – there is nothing he doesn’t know.

Ask all the questions, and seek all the financial advice you have never dared ask before in a two hour session, either on a walk (with or without Ottie his dog), over coffee or either side of a desk. And having perfected his sour dough-making skills during lock down, Simon’s also offering a fresh loaf of bread to the highest bidder.

Simon himself says: I have always loved living in Chiswick, and for the family the House and Gardens have been our playground – what a privilege. Reporting is in my blood, and keeping all things on the straight and narrow on the financial side is what makes me sleep easy at night. So I am very happy to share my experience to support the cause and offer advice as best I am able. And yes, there’s also a fresh loaf for the highest bidder. £200 - 300 Donated by Simon Gompertz

28

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

13

Politics and Polemics Lunch with Peter Oborne Join Peter Oborne, journalist, writer and broadcaster, for lunch at La Trompette on Devonshire Road and engage in an erudite, considered, informed and doubtless polemical conversation on prime ministers, cabinets, governments and regimes past and present, good, bad and ugly.

Described by author and academic Justin Schlosberg as: a rare voice of honesty and integrity, everything a journalist should be and that precious few are, Peter is a former political correspondent of The Spectator, The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph, and is currently political columnist for the magazine Middle East Eye. Twice winner of the Press Awards Columnist of the Year, he has written books on British politics, the Middle East and cricket: his biography of cricketer Basil D’Oliveira won the William Hill Prize for sports writing.

He challenged the rise of fake news and post-truth as early as 2005 in his book The Rise of Political Lying. At the outset a staunch Brexiteer, his position now seems more ambivalent, having called for a complete re-think in 2019. His wife Martine is vicar of St Michael’s Chiswick, and he is gung-ho for some lively debate over good food with the highest bidder.

La Trompette has been a magnet for fine cuisine on Devonshire Road since it opened nearly twenty years ago. It has been the recipient of a succession of accolades and awards, reflecting the care, dedication and creativity of the staff. It prides itself in serving some of the best food in London, and is under the same ownership which includes other notable restaurants including Chez Bruce and The Glass House. £200 - 300 Donated by Peter Oborne and La Trompette 29

14

From Biagio with love - Spectacular Saraceno Enjoy four nights for up to sixteen guests in Villa Saraceno in the Veneto, Italy from 9 - 12 th August 2021 Designed and built by Andrea Palladio between 1545 and 1555, the architect who inspired the 3rd Earl of Burlington to build Chiswick House, Villa Saraceno was commissioned by Biagio Saraceno, a nobleman from Vicenza. Now one of just twenty such surviving residences by Palladio, one of Italy’s greatest Renaissance architects, it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Palladian Villas of the Veneto.

Through his careful study of ancient Roman architecture, Palladio aimed to recapture the splendour of antiquity. And in Villa Saraceno he sought to recreate the Roman ideal of escaping the bustle of the city in a cultured but self-sufficient existence in the countryside. Beautifully restored, and impeccably maintained by The Landmark Trust, Villa Saraceno is now the only Palladio villa you can have entirely to yourself. Frescoes abound and guests dine like gods by candlelight under the vaulted and frescoed loggia, looking out at the stars, just as Biagio and his family did nearly half a millennia ago.

Three bedrooms sleep five in the main villa (a double, twin and single, with three bathrooms). The casa vecchia (old house), has two double bedrooms, one twin, one single and a ‘dorm’ room with four single beds, the four bedrooms served by three bathrooms. It also has its own kitchen. There are working fireplaces in the sitting rooms in both the villa and the house. And in the villa dining room all 16 can eat at a long oak table.

Villa Saraceno is self-catering, but cooking fresh Italian produce in the large elevated villa kitchen is a joy in itself. There is a hypermarket for supplies five minutes’ drive away. Custodians Fabio and Elisabetta can also cater for you if you wish, and be relied upon to lay on a sumptuous meal in the best traditions of Italian cuisine.

The villa is cleverly aligned to catch the breezes from the Dolomites, staying cool even in summer. The extensive grounds stand alone in the fertile Veneto plain and follow the Renaissance pattern of a wild hay meadow to the rear – a delight for the naturalist – and a more formal corte in front, perfect for younger members of the party to let off steam. Others may prefer to doze in the shade of the mulberry trees or gather ripe figs and grapes from the walls.

Padua, Vicenza and Venice are all within reach for a day trip, while the Euganean Hills Regional Park offers great walking, wonderful views and local restaurants. The villa is an hour’s drive from Venice Marco Polo airport. In her own words, Caroline Stanford, Landmark’s in-house historian and head of engagement reveals: Don’t tell anyone, but Villa Saraceno is my favourite Landmark Trust of all their wonderful historic holiday lets. Everyone who stays there falls under its spell.

As a rich young man in his early twenties, Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington clearly did fall under Palladio’s spell. Keen to stamp his own mark on the country estate he had inherited to the west of London, he eschewed the Baroque, the prevalent style of the day. Instead, the ‘Architect Earl’ poured over Palladio’s treatise I quattro libri dell’architettura written 150 years earlier and visited the Veneto in 1719 to understand the Italian’s house designs first-hand. On his return to England, Burlington reinterpreted Palladio’s exquisite blend of classical proportion and welcome retreat (combined in Villa Saraceno to perfection), in his own ground-breaking neo-Palladian designs for his country retreat by the Thames: Chiswick House. £3,000 - 5,000 Donated by The Landmark Trust.

30

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

31

15

The vines of the Veneto Wine tasting in the Chiswick House wine cellar Enjoy a wine tasting like no other – in our very own large brick vaulted cellar – usually off-limits to visitors.

Invite seven of your wine-loving friends for an exclusive tour and guided wine tasting with the ebullient, irrepressible and hugely knowledgeable head of Wine at Chiswick Auctions, Sam Hellyer.

With nearly two decades of sampling and learning about wine, Sam writes: I started working in the wine trade at the age of 18 because I needed to pay for a bus pass to get to a significantly better sixth form in Winchester than the one available in my home town. I was fortunate that the store was run by a passionate band of misfits who had a tasting table and a budget to open wine for customers each week. I got to sample hundreds of wines, but more importantly I got to talk about them with customers and build up my knowledge by discussing the wines with people from all walks of life and levels of experience. Fast forward another 18 years, my academic career was continually supported by working in the wine trade, and I still believe talking about wines and discussing them is the best way to explore. I enjoy translating their flavours into a language that I can share with others, and trading experiences and knowledge about the greatest art form known to humanity.

Begin the evening with a taste of Chiswick House history. Learn about the ‘Bachelor Duke’s’ famous parties. A short historical tour will follow, which will whet your appetite for the wines that Sam will share and describe. £400 - 600 Donated by Sam Hellyer

32

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

33

16

Get me to the wedding on time...

A pair of Austin 12 motor cars for that very special occasion Calling all brides and grooms: reserve the ultimate ‘his ’n’ hers’ modes of classic car transport for your big day.

Lovingly restored, and beautifully presented in matching daffodil yellow, these two exquisite driving machines will chauffeur you with panache and class in spades to your event, and whisk you back to the reception after tying the knot.

Both of these Austin 12s, one a convertible open road tourer, the other a Harley saloon (each now supercharged), were produced between 1933 and 1934. Built on a conventional chassis, with leaf springs and rigid axles front and rear, the Austin 12 nonetheless offered many state of the art features as standard, including such innovations as a single windscreen wiper in front of the driver, a petrol gauge, a clock and a rear view mirror. In pre-War road tests it scored highly for access through all doors (perfect for managing the special one’s dress and train); it was applauded for its excellent braking, and in those years offered a commendable top speed of 48 mph. At the time the various variants retailed new at just north of £200. £400 - 600 Donated by Wint and Jacky Taylor.

34

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

35

17

Veggie delights A Monthly Seasonal Veggie Box Take home a box of fresh, organic and seasonal vegetables every month when in season. Chiswick House and Gardens’ Kitchen Garden grows an enormous selection of vegetables, supplying a number of local businesses and restaurants, and we’d be delighted to supply you too! We’ll package up and have ready a box for you to collect every month from our estate.

We cultivate all kinds of vegetables in the growing season, including potatoes, rhubarb, broccoli, peas, kale, chard and a variety of herbs – to name just a few. In the months where the garden sleeps (November – March) we can give you one of our special handmade wreaths to decorate your home, honey from our beehives and jam (blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberry, when available). Each box should feed approximately 3-4 people for a week.

Take your cooking to the next delicious level with this monthly vegetable box, and support the environment by eating seasonal, local produce. And, to make it extra special, we’ll add a bouquet of fresh cut flowers so your dinner guests can marvel not only at your cooking, but also at a beautiful locally grown bouquet. £250 - 350 Donated by the Chiswick House Gardening Team

36

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

18

Say it with Flowers Seasonal flowers (or winter foliage) every month for a year Treat yourself or a loved one to fresh seasonal flowers (or winter foliage) every month for a year. The winner of this lot can drop by Chiswick House each month, and we’ll send you home with a freshly cut bouquet of flowers in bloom.

Whether offering them with love to a family member or enjoying a beautiful, fresh bouquet in your home, there’s nothing like flowers to put a spring in one’s step and create a positive mood. This is a gift that keeps on giving.

Flowers won’t be the only thing you’re taking home, as you’ll also be feeling good about the environment, knowing that these flowers were grown locally at Chiswick House and Gardens. £250 - 350 Donated by the Chiswick House Gardening Team

37

19

Eat like an Earl Dinner in Chiswick House for up to sixteen Host your own private dinner party in the sublime splendour of Chiswick House, under the magnificent ceiling of the Domed Saloon. This soaring octagonal space lies at the heart of the house. The apex of Burlington’s grand design, it is also known as the Upper Tribunal, reflecting the Roman classical order the ‘Architect Earl’ so admired. Designed to impress, in his day it was the first room that visitors entered via the portico, and was the focal point of his legendary parties and receptions.

In this glorious space, beneath the coffering derived from the ancient Basilica of Maxentius, and under the eye of the Roman busts affixed to the walls, you and your guests will dine in sumptuous splendour just as Lord Burlington did nearly 300 years before you, surrounded by eight impressive old master paintings from the Earl’s original art collection, including an early copy after Sir Anthony Van Dyck of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria, with Prince Charles and Princess Mary.

Enjoy drinks and canapes, followed by a 3-course dinner for sixteen in a setting to remember, served up by our exclusive catering partner Food Show, whose energy, passion and creativity are reflected in their stunning menus and dedication to locally sourced produce.

Your party will be seated amongst elegant floral arrangements, and in the manner of the dilettanti of the day, in all likelihood the hardest decisions awaiting you will be choosing which canapé to start with first, before proceeding in suitable fashion to your starter, main course and dessert. £2,000 - 3,000 Dinner donated by Food Show

38

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

39

20

The Magic of Christmas in the rarity of a Routemaster See London’s Christmas Lights on a famous red Routemaster Bring your festive cheer and climb aboard this classic London bus from Victoria with up to 40 of your dearest and nearest. Enjoy an exclusive 2 – 3 hour tour of the celebrated London lights in the run up to Christmas 2020. And if current social distancing necessitates, a second classic red RT bus – elder brother to the Routemaster - will be provided to spread the load.

Trawl up Oxford Street, meander down Bond Street, pootle along Piccadilly, feel right royal on Regent Street and stare at the Strand as you enjoy the best of company and share the delights of the festive season with your guests in the warm and cosy interior of a beautifully restored and maintained Routemaster.

The bus is privately owned, and the tour is not commercially available, but has been developed bespoke over the years by a transport specialist, with expert knowledge of the London Lights, for his family and friends. The Routemaster offers a wonderful vantage point to see the full panoply of Christmas decorations in the West End and beyond. It is a tour that your driver knows uniquely well, and Bob, your amiable, erudite and overly qualified conductor revels in. Bob says: I love having the opportunity to give this special tour on this amazing vehicle. I know the terrain so well, but it happens so rarely. I recall the last time we did it there were 15 kids running riot upstairs, and 15 adults slowly getting legless on the lower deck. A very merry time was had by all as we passed so many of London’s amazing sights and got an eye full of the illuminations. There is certainly no other Christmas special like it.

The first Routemaster came into service in 1956, and quickly endeared itself to Londoners, becoming a friend and trusted companion to commuters, residents and visitors alike. It was prized for its reliability, its generous curves, and easy access via its hop-on hop-off back platform. The last to be built was in 1968. When it was taken out of service in 2005 its passing was widely mourned by passengers and public alike who took pride in its reassuring presence on London’s streets.

Flashy imitators have come along since, but nothing can beat riding the original, which has been voted one of Britain’s top ten design icons beside the Spitfire, Concorde and the Mini. £500 - 700

Donated by Wint and Jacky Taylor.

40

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

41

21

Head for the Hills A week in rustic Nantyrychan Farm in the Black Mountains, Wales, for up to ten Of Nantyrychan Farm George and Jane Nissen write: ‘the house and its remote surroundings are in complete contrast to the formal beauties of Chiswick House, which we’ve known and loved for nearly 60 years. This year in particular, the Chiswick House grounds - still so beautifully maintained during lockdown - have been a superb destination for so many, including us.

We have owned Nantyrychan Farm since 1972. It is situated at 1000 feet and accessed from the small town of Crickhowell on the A40, near Abergavenny in Powys. It lies five miles along a no-through road, and then up a forest track. Rustic by design, the charm of the house lies in its location (very private) and its wonderful walks straight out of the farmyard and onto the Black Mountains and beyond, should you be intrepid enough.

The house sleeps ten in six bedrooms, with two bathrooms (with baths, not showers), one small and one large sitting room, the former with a fireplace, the latter with a wood burner. The kitchen is equipped with an oil-fired Rayburn, two gas hobs, a wall-mounted grill and a dishwasher. An adjacent larder houses a second fridge and a freezer. The kitchen table seats eight comfortably and ten at a little bit of a squeeze.

The house is not central heated but there are electric heaters in all the bedrooms. There is satellite wi-fi, a TV and DVD player, but no TV reception. Mobile phone signal is sketchy, but there is a landline. We never rent it out, so it is full of personal family belongings (including a bookshelf full of books about the local area, walks etc.).

If you are after a luxury break, this is not the house for you. But if you love walking, enjoy the opportunity for kids to run free, or if you would like to spend a week in and around Crickhowell, which was overall winner of the Great British High Street Awards in 2018 - and the many opportunities it offers for outdoor pursuits such as pony trekking, gliding, paragliding, canoeing, wild swimming, rock climbing and fly-fishing on the River Usk, then this is a wonderful opportunity.’

We are eternally grateful to everyone who has kept the grounds open during all of lockdown and wish the auction every success. £500 - 700 Donated by Jane and George Nissen.

42

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

43

22

Fuller’s Beautiful Bedrooms A one-night stay for two in a Fuller’s pub or hotel including dinner and breakfast.

Choose from Fuller’s thirty-four pubs and hotels offering Beautiful Bedrooms – boutique rooms in prime locations across the south of England which provide guests with a warm welcome and first-class hospitality, from West Sussex to Warwickshire, Dorset to Oxfordshire – even London. Enjoy a lip-smacking three-course dinner including wine, a dreamy night’s sleep, and an ample breakfast.

Fuller’s has long been a supporter of the Chiswick community that has been its home since 1845, and Chiswick House has always been a key partner during that time. Fuller’s is delighted to continue that support through this auction. We very much look forward to welcoming the lucky recipient to enjoy all that our Beautiful Bedrooms by Fuller’s have to offer.

To be taken before 30th March 2021. The offer is not redeemable from 21st December 2020 - 2nd January 2021 or 14th February. Visit www.fullers.co.uk/find-a-hotel for applicable destinations. £200 - 300 Donated by Fuller’s.

44

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

23

Roko Fitness for all the Family Three month family membership for 2 adults and 2 children at Roko Roko Health Club, Chiswick are offering the highest bidder a three-month family membership, for up to two adults and two children under sixteen, to be activated before 31st December 2020.

The club by Chiswick Bridge is a premium health club and gym. It offers an endless list of cutting edge facilities that will take your breath away, so that whatever your health, fitness and lifestyle goals Roko can help you achieve them. Facilities include a 20-metre indoor pool, a spa area, sauna, steam bath, hydro-spa, state of the art gym equipment with training zones, and more than seventy different classes a week in three different studios. It also has a thriving junior programme for kids. ÂŁ300 - 500 Donated by Roko Health Club.

45

24

A Venice vacation A week in Venice for two Escape to the joys of Venice and indulge in a week away in this wonderfully light filled second floor apartment with a glorious view of the canal, and a sunny terrace situated in the unspoilt area of Santa Croce, two minutes’ walk from Campo San Giacomo del Orio.

On your doorstep is St Mark’s Cathedral, the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Bridge with its famous fish, vegetable and fruit market all within easy reach, either by vaporetto (five minutes’ walk) or take your time and get there on foot. There is a wonderful baker, a fabled organic gelateria , a greengrocer, newsagent, wine store and good supermarket all close by. Excellent local restaurants are also within a few minutes’ walk of the flat.

The Young family say: This welcoming flat has been enjoyed by so many of our friends over 20 years. It is in a delightful area where Venetian families still live, yet it is close to all the famous sights without being in a tourist area.

In their generous support of the cause, the Youngs comment: Chiswick House, with its wonderful garden, musical and other events to enjoy should be cherished by all of us. £500 - 700 Donated by the Young family.

46

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

47

25

Sir Peter Blake RA Camellia japonica incarnata signed and numbered from an edition of 250 screen print 29 x 35cm (11 ½ x 13 ¾ in) Prized for his seminal and iconic Pop Art images of the 1950s and 1960s, including his legendary cover of the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band, Peter Blake became a Royal Academician in 1981 and was knighted in 2002. The subjective of a major retrospective at the Tate Gallery in 1983, and Tate Liverpool in 2008, his work is represented in numerous private and public collections, including Tate Britain. In 2014 he unveiled his mural commission for the Royal Albert Hall titled Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, a montage featuring over 400 stars who have performed there over the years.

A long time Chiswick resident, Peter is unstinting in his support of art projects in the local community. Most recently these have included his contribution of two specially commissioned works for the Chiswick Time Line unveiled under the railway bridge at Turnham Green Station in 2018, and in September 2019 being the inaugural artist to feature on the W4th Plinth on Turnham Green Terrace with a vast image of many of the singers and performers who appeared on stage at the Chiswick Empire, Laurel and Hardy, George Formby, Peter Sellers, Liberace and Cliff Richards amongst them.

Peter says: I love Chiswick House for all its eccentricities and the hidden corners in the wonderful gardens. It’s a kind of fantastic 18th century folie. It has long fascinated me, like a lot of the 18th century, which was such a rich period in our creative history. I feel very lucky to have it on my doorstep. £300 - 500 Donated by the artist.

48

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

49

26

Lucky seven Seven nights for seven guests in Portloe on the Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall Escape the urban jungle, and take six of your closest friends or family with you for a Cornish getaway at Farm Cottage in Portloe, ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the Roseland peninsula, and arguably one of the most beautiful villages in Britain.

The cottage nestles into the valley beside the stream that leads to the attractive harbour about 100 metres away. The Ship Inn is just up the road less than two minutes’ walk and the Lugger Hotel is situated in the Harbour. Portloe is ideally situated for walks on the South Cornish Coastal path and the village is the quintessential sleepy fishing village that has been the natural setting for many a television series including the latest Rosamunde Pilcher and The Camomile Lawn .

Originally a farmhouse, the property has been renovated to a high standard. It still retains many of its original features, but is now warm, comfortable, stylish and light filled, decorated with paintings and works by local artists. Turned upside down to help maximise the views, the cottage comprises two double bedrooms, one with ensuite shower; one twin and one single. As well as the ensuite, there is a family bathroom, and an upstairs shower and loo.

The generous donors of this lot say: We are delighted to support the fundraiser for Chiswick House and Gardens. Farm Cottage has been our holiday home for over 30 years. We encourage all our guests to enjoy the peace and quiet of the village and the surrounding beaches and cliff walks.

Subject to availability, outside school holidays, no pets. £500 - 700

50

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

51

27

28

Mountains in the meadows

Back in the swing

A ski lesson for 2 at the indoor ski slope at Dukes Meadows All equipment is provided. And whether you like to snowboard or ski, the slope and lesson can be personalised to suit any level of ability, from beginner to super experienced. Valid for off peak usage MonFri 09.00 to 15.00 until 1st Sept 2021. £60 - 80 Donated by Dukes Meadows Golf, Tennis & Ski.

A lesson and play for up to 6 lady’s at Dukes Meadows Golf club.

This lot includes an hour’s lesson with the ladies golf pro, plus an additional hour on the academy course afterwards to put the lesson into practice !

Overlooking the Thames, Dukes Meadows Golf Club offers superb facilities, including a 9 hole 3 par golf course, a 50 bay flood lit driving range, a 5 hole academy course and short game area. There is a licensed café/ bar with outdoor seating over looking the course, and there is onsite free parking. £100 - 200 Donated by Dukes Meadows Golf, Tennis & Ski.

52

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

29

30

Smash it

Winter Warmer

Tennis lessons plus court usage at Will to Win, Chiswick House

A package for December at The Hogarth Club

Improve your tennis this winter with a five week floodlight tennis course for one (Beginner, Improver or Intermediate), plus an additional four hours of off peak court hire at Will to Win

Shape up for Christmas and bid on a ‘Winter Warmer’ package for December at The Hogarth Club, off Airedale Avenue, W4 - unlimited use of all the club’s facilities for the month, including a one hour personal training session and your own snug club robe to keep.

Will to Win have been operating the tennis courts in Chiswick House Gardens since 1995, The centre is open to everyone, and offers 7 hard tennis courts, 2 all weather courts, a mini tennis court, netball facilities and a charming café pavilion. £80 - 120 Donated by Will to Win.

The Hogarth Club is family owned and set accross two acres in the heart of Chiswick. It offers the full range of sporting facilities, and supporting physical and mental wealness through exercise, nutrition and relaxation. £150 - 250 Donated by The Hogarth Club.

53

31

Flaming flamenco A week in Andalucia for six Bring your swimming costume and five family members or friends and spend a week in a wonderful house in southern Spain, set in its own olive grove with panoramic views of the surrounding valley and mountains beyond with a far distant view of the azure sea. Take a break from the hot Spanish sun under the large shady terrace overlooking the gardens and swimming pool.

In the owner’s words: This house gives me a wonderful escape from everything and a chance to catch my breath. I love strolling in the olive grove and looking at the spectacular views. It is so easy to walk into the village and yet once back inside the gate I feel like the world has been left outside.

Enjoy the best of both worlds, with a rural setting on the edge of a well-appointed village. A short (uphill) walk away are a good selection of cafes, several supermarkets, a greengrocer and a tip- top bakery.

Use the house as a jumping off point to head to the coast (40-minute drive), an hour to Malaga and just under two hours to Granada and the exquisite jewel of the Alhambra Palace. You can also put on your hiking shoes and enjoy some well documented self-guided hill walks nearby.

The house sleeps four in one double bedroom with ensuite and one twin bedroom. There is a separate bathroom, a large sitting room with dining area and fireplace, and a further sitting room with a wood burning stove. The kitchen is well equipped with a dishwasher. The house has solar electricity and a gas water heater and hob. There is a washing machine and limited Wi-Fi. Of Chiswick House and Gardens the donor comments: I feel so lucky to live next to this wonderful treasure. I get so much from it - a chance to get outside and watch the seasons change, entertainment, culture and a place to share with friends. ÂŁ500 - 700

54

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

55

32

Riverside respite A week in Wiltshire for five Picture yourself at lovely Meadow View, a delightful riverside cottage overlooking the River Avon with unspoilt views across the valley. You’ll see all kinds of birds, including kingfishers, and with luck you may also occasionally catch an otter swimming peacefully downstream in the babbling brook in the garden.

The cottage is on the edge of the village of East Chisenbury, in the Avon Valley in Wiltshire – an excellent area for walking and sightseeing with Stonehenge, Avebury and other ancient sites nearby. There is a good local shop a mile away in Upavon.

Salisbury, and the attractive market towns of Devizes and Marlborough, are a half hour drive away.

Staying in? Stretch your culinary muscles in the well-appointed kitchen, cosy up to the woodburning stove in the dining room, kick back in the sitting room with an open fire. Stunning views abound from the French windows that open onto a sunny vine-covered terrace with a summerhouse. Steps from the terrace lead down to the riverside garden (not fenced). A gate opens into the adjoining wood.

The cottage comprises 2 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms (1 double, 1 twin and 1 single), a bathroom with shower, and a utility room with sink, washing machine and tumble dryer. There is parking for two cars. One well-behaved dog is welcome. £500 - 700 Donated by the Young family.

56

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

33

Reach for your rods Fly fishing on the River Kennet For the fly fisherman with some experience, be transported out of the City and into one of England’s finest chalk streams.

The middle Kennet is a wildlife haven, where water voles and kingfishers do their best to distract you from your quarry. Wild and stocked trout rise freely to the fly, and there’s a terrific pub nearby to down a well-earned drink at the end of the day.

This accompanied day of fly fishing for one on the River Kennet, near Hungerford, includes a picnic or pub lunch. Drive about an hour and a half down the M4 from London where you’ll be spending the day with Ben Welsh, a keen and experienced fly fisherman who is adamant that this is the best spot for fly fishing.

Invite a friend or loved one, someone who would be happy to enjoy nature from the bank of the river and admire the pristine nature. The Kennet is the largest tributary of the River Thames, with most of the river straddled by the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In the words of Ben and Dinah Welsh, donors of this lot: It’s a wonderful way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It transports you to an alternative world. And we are happy that it will support the cause. Chiswick House is an elegant oasis and a dear friend where we can lose the grime and noise of the city to walk and work in the garden. It is a jewel in London and we want to help protect it. £200 - 300 Donated by Ben and Dinah Welsh, Certus Communications Ltd

57

34

Claret to be coveted 12 bottles of red and white wine 12 highly drinkable bottles of wine, featuring three reds and one white, from Bordeaux, generously donated by George Nissen, past Chairman of Chiswick House Friends.

Three bottles of Chateau Beaumont, Haut-Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, 2010 Three bottles of Chateau Beau-Site, Saint-Estèphe, 2011 Three bottles of Chateau de Pitray, Comtesse de Boigne, 2015 Three bottles of Chateau de Beauregard, Saint Véran, 2015 £150 - 250 Donated by George and Jane Nissen

58

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

35

Heaven in a hamper A bespoke selection of vegetables, herbs, flowers, honey, jam and a potted camellia Treat yourself or a lucky loved one to a selection of flowers, vegetables and home produce from Chiswick House and Gardens. We’ve created a generous and irresistible cornucopia of flowers, vegetables, herbs, honey and jam in a box – a gift that will ‘wow’ the lucky winner of this hamper!

Claim your classic hamper anytime in October. Depending on when you collect, we’ll put together a bespoke selection of vegetables according to the season (that could include runner beans, green beans, potatoes, kale, cabbage, carrots, onions etc.); a selection of herbs (such as sage, mint, thyme, rosemary or lavender); freshly cut flowers, honey from our hives, homemade jam, and one of our heritage camellias (potted, so you can grow it at home). £80 - 120 Donated by the Chiswick House Gardening team

59

36

Refined refreshments Seats of Government - The Mayor invites and our MP donates Visit the Mayor at Hounslow House, and take home a bottle of House of Commons Whisky signed by the Speaker; for up to eight.

Tony Louki, Mayor of Hounslow, is generously inviting the highest bidder to join him in the Civic Suite in the recently completed Hounslow House, home of local government, by choosing one of the following two options: Either join him for afternoon tea for eight in his mayoral parlour, regaled with sandwiches and scones, following a tour of the Mayor’s office where you will learn about the day-to-day operations of the Council. This special opportunity is geared towards children accompanied by their parents or carers. Half-day in total Or join him for an evening reception for eight in his mayoral parlour, where you will be served drinks and canapés, following a lecture or discussion with a presentation by Tony.

Elected Mayor of Hounslow Council in 2019, Tony has been praised for his green credentials. Prior to becoming Mayor, Tony was a long serving councillor, first nominated to represent Isleworth North in 1990 and 1994 and subsequently re-elected in Osterley & Spring Grove in 2014 and 2018.

Of Chiswick House he says: I have always liked the place, even more so since becoming one of the Hounslow Borough Councillor Trustees in 2018; we have plans. Impressed by the new leadership, our hardworking staff, hands on fellow trustees and the superb Friends. This Covid has scuppered a fair bit for loads of folk but am I proud that everyone here has managed to keep the grounds open for the maintenance of everyone’s wellbeing. I’m most touched by how so many people have rallied these past six months and happy to play a part with the Mayor’s humble but unique auction lot.

Tony’s invitation is accompanied by a bottle of House of Commons Whisky signed by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle and kindly donated by Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth.

Ruth writes: It’s been wonderful to see how Chiswick House and Gardens has been transformed since the Trust was established, both as a great community space, and as a historical landscape. At this difficult time the Staff, Trustees, Volunteers and Friends have combined to do a very special job and I am so happy to support them in this Auction. £250 - 350 Donated by Tony Louki and Ruth Cadbury.

60

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

61

37

Stardust and Gin Tea at Olympic Studios & a Tour of Sipsmith distillery for two Treat a special person in your life to afternoon tea in the exclusive Members’ Club at Olympic Studios in Barnes, home to the Olympic Cinema. Then proceed to a tour of Sipsmith distillery and tutored gin tasting.

The Elegant Olympic Studios Members Club is the perfect place to indulge in cucumber or coronation chicken sandwiches, scones with cream and jam, then cakes of the lemon, chocolate or orange variety, all washed down with your favourite teas.

Once your delectable afternoon tea has settled, you could continue together to Sipsmith distillery, a short ride away across the river. You’ll be greeted with a ginny tipple, and be taken through the chequered history of gin making, learning how Sipsmith came into being. The distillery’s ‘three copper ladies’ Prudence, Verity and Constance will take centre stage as you learn how Sipsmith’s award-winning spirits are carefully hand-crafted, while you sample a range of their specialist gins. £50 - 70 Donated by Olympic Studios and Sipsmith’s.

62

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

38

On yer bike (or penny farthing!)

Enjoy an exhilarating ride out with Jeremy Vine Avid cyclist and enthusiastic supporter of Chiswick House, Jeremy Vine is offering one lucky person the rare opportunity to ride with him on his penny farthing. Or, if you feel it’s a bit of a stretch to ride his, bring your own bike to ride alongside. Not only will you delight in conversation with Jeremy, but he’ll also give you a signed copy of his new book The Diver and The Lover: A Novel of Love, Sacrifice and the Art of Obsession, released earlier this month.

Jeremy says about Chiswick House and the auction: ‘It’s so important to have such an amazing green space free and open to the public.

These historic grounds are precious to us and our wellbeing today. I feel Chiswick House’s charity auction is an opportunity to bring the community together again and raise much needed funds to maintain this beautiful place.’

Jeremy is one of the UK’s best-known broadcasters and a local Chiswick resident. He presents a weekday show on Radio 2, as well as Jeremy Vine on Channel 5, a daily current affairs programme, and he fronts Eggheads, one of the longest-running quiz shows in British TV history.

Somehow he has the time to write books – Jeremy is also an accomplished journalist and has previously published two works of non-fiction. £200 - 300 Donated by Jeremy Vine

63

64

For terms specific to each lot in this sale, please visit www.chiswickauctions.co.uk

39

Roll Up, Roll Up Six tickets to Giffords Circus plus dinner at Circus Sauce, and a Giffords goodie bag Giffords Circus is a magical village green circus. It tours England throughout the summer, and performs annually in the grounds of Chiswick House & Gardens. Win this lot and take five of your friends, or bring the family, for some spectacular entertainment.

In Summer 2021, Giffords Circus plans to present ‘The Hooley’ – Faeries, come take me out of this dull world, For I would ride with you upon the wind, Run on the top of the dishevelled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame.” W B Yeats.

Currently, Giffords Circus are running ‘The Feast’ – a brand new, socially distanced, totally fabulous, all singing, all dancing circus show and dining extravaganza. Guests are seated under the big top at a dining table and served a three-course feast, whilst enjoying the full range of Giffords travelling troupe of circus acts and performers.

For your experience, you can expect entertainment followed by a table for six reserved just for you, with food and drink provided by Circus Sauce, the UK’s only travelling restaurant. Prepared from scratch, Circus Sauce’s dishes are seasonal, with ingredients sourced from dedicated local smallholdings, loyalty boxes, farms, fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers. £250 - 350 Donated by Giffords Circus 65

Help us (re)build Chiswick House!

As Xanthe, our Director, writes in her introduction, we have lost some £500,000 of income that we normally raise from events and activities at Chiswick House. This is significant, and yet our dedicated team has worked tirelessly to ensure that at the very least we provide a safe and clean space for visitors to enjoy fresh air and exercise. The reality is, if we can’t replace these vital funds, we won’t be able to look after the house and gardens that our visitors love.

To support the ‘rebuilding’ of Chiswick House we are asking you to pledge whatever you are able to help us care for Chiswick House and Gardens at this difficult time. For example: · £10,000 could cover three months’ costs of looking after our Italian Garden, built in 1814 to complement the Conservatory and restored in 2010. · £5,000 could cover 100 days of watering our entire Grade I registered gardens. · £3,000 could cover the monthly cost of looking after the 2,400 trees on our 65-acre estate, and keeping the grounds free from pests and diseases. · £1,000 could cover the monthly cost of looking after our 33 varieties of heritage camellias, the largest collection under glass in the world. · £500 could cover the weekly cost of keeping the gardens free of litter.

If you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim an extra 25% on top of your donation through Gift Aid, at no cost to you. A gift of £15 or more will add a brick to our LEGO® Brick Model of Chiswick House at a rate of £1.50 per brick. Make your pledge: https://justgiving.com/campaign/ChiswickHouseLegoModel You can watch the live process here, and once we’re fully open again, local children will be involved in finishing the LEGO® Brick Model and learning about the history of the house and gardens. The LEGO® Brick Model will show the wings added by the 6th Duke of Devonshire, but can also be shown without the wings, as originally designed by Lord Burlington and as it is today.

We are grateful to Chiswick House Friends for their unwavering support of the House and the grounds, and for commissioning this extraordinary model. It’s thanks to their generosity that 100% of your donation will support Chiswick House. Chiswick House Friends are a charitable organisation established in 1984 to support the operation, development and protection of Chiswick House and Gardens. They work closely with us to organise and sponsor special events and to raise funds for essential refurbishment projects, educational initiatives and acquisitions.

A very special place… where we got married, first place we took each of our children, where they learnt to ride their bikes, we were even there today! So grateful to have this gem on our doorstep. – Anonymous donor

66

Buy, Sell and Discover at Chiswick Auctions

Chiswick Auctions is an established London Auction house with over 20 specialist departments ranging from antiques, paintings, jewellery, books through to luxury accessories, located right on your doorstep.

Visit chiswickauctions.co.uk for full auction calendar and viewing times.

info@chiswickauctions.co.uk +44 (0)20 8992 4442 1 Colville Road, London W3 8BL