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Ended

The Contents of Kerfield House

11 September 2025 | starting at 10:00 BST

Please click here for Post-Auction information on Collections, Shipping & Storage

Opening days & times:
Monday 18 August, 10:30am – 4:00pm
then, every Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm
until 4.00pm on Wednesday 10 September

Weekend viewing:
Sunday 7 September, 11:00am – 3:00pm

Bonhams is delighted to present The Contents of Kerfield House at 101 New Bond Street this September. The Georgian-styled house on the outskirts of the Cheshire market town of Knutsford was originally constructed in 1860, before being transformed under Percy Scott Worthington in 1912.

It has been the home of John and Elaine Johnson since 1987 and it is here, explains daughter and antique dealer Holly Johnson, that their taste for collecting grew in scale. Each room was decorated with Elaine's own individual style to have a distinct identity, using wallpapers by the likes of De Gournay and fabrics and trims from the Paris fabric houses.

Their love for travel, combined with Holly's growing businesses as a dealer, saw key pieces of the collection sourced from France, Holland and Italy. The grand piano by Pleyel Lyon and Cie was removed from a chateau near Montauben with a crane as it was too large for any of the doors, with the bedroom furniture attributed to Zwiener came from Paris and Nice.

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

183 lots available

A French late 19th century carved giltwood centre tableAfter the Louis XIV model attributed to Jules Degoullons which was supplied to the Château de Bercy in 1713

A French late 19th / early 20th century carved giltwood centre tableAfter the Louis XIV model attributed to Jules Degoullons which was supplied to the Château de Bercy in 1713

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Cesare Lapini (1848-after 1890): a pair of Italian 19th century carved marble busts of 'Cleopatra' and 'Shulamite'Each signed C. Lapini Firenze 1881

A set of four large gilt bronze and grey veined marble medallions20th century, in the Empire style

A pair of French carved giltwood console tablesSecond-half 19th century in the Louis XV style

T Berti, 19th Centuryafter DomenichinoThe Cumaean Sibyl

T Berti, 19th Centuryafter DomenichinoThe Samian Sibyl

A large 20th century Aubusson-style machine made carpetFrench 598cm x 495.5cm

Auguste Moreau (French, 1834–1917): a pair of late 19th century patinated bronze figures of winged female putti

An impressive pair of French late 19th century patinated and gilt bronze figural six-light candelabraIn the Louis XVI style

A pair of French late 19th century gilt and patinated bronze figural three branch four-light candelabra

A pair of French late 19th century gilt bronze lamp basesIn the Rococo style

A pair of monumental famille rose Canton enamel vases Xianfeng six-character marks, 20th century

A fine French early 20th century kingwood, tulipwood, rosewood, marquetry and ormolu mounted baby grand pianoCirca 1912, the movement made by Pleyel, Paris, the case by A. Gaurier. Serial number 45596, invoice number 158785

A pair of French gilt bronze girandolesEarly 20th century

A large gilt composition convex mirror in the Regency style

A Regency carved giltwood convex mirrorFirst quarter 19th century

A pair of carved giltwood and composition mirrorsEarly 20th century, in the George III style

A pair of French kingwood, rosewood and gilt bronze mounted bombé commodesLate 19th / early 20th century, in the Louis XIV style

A pair of gilt brass and cut glass twin-light wall appliquesIn the 19th century style

A large brass, leaded and painted glass hall lantern in the Japonisme tasteFirst half 20th century

A pair of French late 19th / early 20th century gilt bronze five-light wall appliquesIn the Louis XVI style

A set of three gilt brass twin-branch wall lightsIn the Louis XV style

A late Victorian brass four-light electrolierIn the ecclesiastical Gothic taste style

A large French mid-19th century gilt bronze eight-light chandelierIn the Louis XV style

A French late 19th century gilt bronze matched clock garniture

A French late 19th century gilt bronze and Sèvres-style porcelain inset clock

A pair of late 19th century brass church altar sticks converted to lamp bases

A pair of 19th century carved giltwood pier mirrorsCirca 1860, in the early George III style

A set of three giltwood and fringe brocade blue damask curtains

A pair of French gilt gesso, composition and carved wood pelmetsFirst half 20th century

Henri-Georges-Jacques Chartier(French, 1859-1924)A French cavalry charge under canon fire of the Napoleonic Wars

Émile Betsellère(French, 1847-1880)French Revolutionaries disputing with a leader of the Revolution

Circle of James Leakey(British, 1773-1865)The arrival of a circus troupe, probably Richardson's 'Penny' Theatre or Circus

Manner of Edward Armfield (British, 1817-1896)After the shoot

English School(18th century)St Jerome in the Wilderness

British Schoolcirca 1900, after RembrandtSelf Portrait

Rudolf Giffinger(German, 19th Century)An Alpine waterfall

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): a four panel 'Libreria' screenItalian, circa 1955

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): a rare 'Strumenti Musicali' Boomerang chairItalian, circa 1950, for Fornasetti Milano

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): an 'Architettura' centre or dining tableItalian, circa 1988, for Fornasetti Milano after the original collaboration with Gio Ponti

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): a rare 'Ultime Notizie' centre or dining tableItalian, circa 1987, for Fornasetti Milano

A French late 19th century kingwood, gilt bronze mounted and red lacquered cabinetCirca 1880 and later, in the Louis XVI style

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