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Lady Glenconner, My Life in Objects & A Farquhar Legacy

19 November 2025 | starting at 14:00 GMT

Due to an external internet service issue affecting various companies worldwide, we believe that it is in the best interest of our clients to delay the auction by 24 hours to ensure the best possible client experience. We will therefore be commencing the auction at 14:00 GMT tomorrow, 19 November 2025, in our New Bond Street galleries

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Bonhams is delighted to offer Lady Glenconner: My Life in Objects, a selection of highlights from the personal collection of Lady Glenconner. From being Maid of Honour at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and, later, Lady in Waiting to her childhood friend Princess Margaret, to hosting rockstars on her husband's private island of Mustique, Lady Glenconner has lived an extraordinary life.

Through this carefully curated selection of lots her story of royalty, glamour, and a roller-coaster marriage is told. Lots include Old Master heirlooms, to a gold Cartier box gifted to Lady Glenconner by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a ballgown worn to the legendary Peacock Ball on Mustique.

Of the sale, Lady Glenconner says: I have had such great pleasure living with these wonderful objects, each telling their own fascinating story and I am delighted that they will soon be going on to new homes, and their stories will enter a new chapter.

Sold alongside this collection is A Farquhar Legacy, a family collection which has passed down through the generations. Sir Walter Rockcliffe Farquhar (1810-1900) was a senior partner at the private bank Herries, Farquhar & Co. which was noted for pioneering circular notes (the precursor to the traveller's cheque) and for becoming leading financiers to Britain's aristocracy and gentry.

Following the Napoleonic Wars, the bank invested in French bonds and is thought to have established connections with Napoleon III, also known as Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. According to family tradition, the deposed Emperor was accommodated by the Farquhar family at their London residence in Eaton Square, before moving to lodgings in St James's Street. It is reputed that, unable to repay the loan by conventional means, Napoleon III presented the family, in gratitude for their safe haven, with valuables from prominent French royal palaces. These were, according to family history, transported by bullock carts through Northern France then delivered across the Channel to Britain.

Live Auction

London, New Bond Street

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Auction highlights

An exceptional Lombard early 19th century purplewood, mahogany, rosewood, tulipwood, maple and marquetry commode by Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814) Circa 1805-1810, Parabiago. Estimate: £50,000 - £80,000

Victor Pasmore R.A. (British, 1908-1998) The Painting Lesson 50.8 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.) (Painted in 1939). Estimate: £30,000 - £50,000

Eliot Hodgkin (British, 1905-1987) Eight Feather II. Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

Samuel de Wilde (London 1751-1832) Portraits of Georgian actors: Charles Farley, Henry Johnston, Nanette Johnston, George Cooke, Samuel Simmons, John Quick and John Fawcett ((7)). Estimate: £6,000 - £10,000

A 9 carat gold Cartier box given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Jacques Cartier, London, 1954, engraved 'Cartier London', incuse stamped 'W' (2). Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

Circle of Gasparo Lopez (Naples 1650-1732 Florence) Still lifes of roses, chrysanthemums, narcissi and other flowers in bronze urns on stone ledges ( (2)). Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

A fine set of four George III carved giltwood armchairsIn the manner of Henry Holland, possibly by James Newton, circa 1790 (4). Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

A George III satinwood, rosewood crossbanded, boxwood and ebony line inlaid serpentine chestCirca 1785. Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

Of Swedish Royal interest: a Swedish white enamel and silver gilt box W. A. Bolin, Stockholm 1917 (2). Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

A pair of Victorian simulated bamboo and painted bedside cupboardsThird quarter 19th century, in the Chinese taste (2). Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

Specialist contacts

Ella Jerman-Riddell

Sale Coordinator

Tel: +44 20 7468 8359

Ella.Jerman-Riddell@bonhams.com

Madeleine Cater

Associate Specialist

Tel: +44 20 7468 5895

Madeleine.Cater@bonhams.com

Charlie Thomas

Group Head, Private Collections, Furniture & Works of Art, U.K

Tel: +44 20 7468 8358

Charlie.Thomas@bonhams.com

Bids (UK)

Tel: +44 20 7447 7447

bids@bonhams.com

News and stories

Read Story

Additional information

Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

Ф	Item contains or is made of ivory
	This lot contains or is made of ivory and cannot be imported into the USA or any country within the EU.
•	Exempt from VAT
	Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.
AR	Artists Resale Right
	Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.
TP	Off site storage location
	For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.
Y	CITES
	Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.

Lady Glenconner, My Life in Objects & A Farquhar Legacy

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

49TP — A matched set of six ebonised, parcel gilt and painted dining armchairsEarly 20th century and later, in the George III style

50TP,Y — A George III satinwood, rosewood crossbanded, boxwood and ebony line inlaid serpentine chestCirca 1785

51TP — A Regency carved giltwood day bedEarly 19th century, in the manner of Marsh and Tatham

52TP — A pair of Victorian simulated bamboo and painted bedside cupboardsThird quarter 19th century, in the Chinese taste

53TP — A cream painted tester bed 20th century

54TP — Two pairs of silk curtains, in Lady Anne fabric

55TP — A large floral needlepoint carpetProbably 20th century, in the French style 425cm x 303cm overall

56TP — A vintage Marmet coach built pramCirca 1968

57TP — A three fold turned pine 'railing' screenSecond half 20th century

58TP — A Regency style mahogany canterbury, together with a music score by William Walton

59TP — An early 20th century stained beech coffee table stool

60TP — A mahogany and fiddleback mahogany octagonal occasional table20th century, in the William IV style

61TP — A vintage Millson coach built pramCirca 1968

62TP — A French late 19th/early 20th century cherrywood lit en bateau

63 — Dutch School18th CenturyA study of roses, primula and sweat peas

64 — Thomas Churchyard(British, 1798-1865)A woodland walk

65 — William Maw Egley(British, 1826-1916)Children at Play

66 — Emma Brownlow(1832-1905)Cadogan Pier, Chelsea

67TP — Thomas Smith of Derby(active Britain, 1745-1767)The Cullen Arabian held by a groom, before a landscape with classical ruins

68 — Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., ARA, RWS(British, 1833-1898)The Letter

69 — Fanny Jane Bayfield(British, fl. 1872-1897)Arnum Lilies

70 — English School(20th Century)Un-Dressage; Un-Covert

71AR — Achilleas Droungas(Greek, born 1940)Measure of Understanding

72 — Michelangelo Meucci(Italian, 1840-1890)Hanging Songbirds

73AR — Carl Toms(British, 1927-1999)The Peacock Ball:

74 — Carl Toms (British, 1927-1999): a silk ballgown designed for Lady Glenconner for the Peacock Ball 1986

75 — Carl Toms (British, 1927-1999): a hand made turquoise silk Indian gown worn by Lady Glenconner at the Peacock ball 1986

76 — [CADDY (LIEUT. JOHN HERBERT) Scenery of the Windward & Leeward Islands], Ackermann & Co., 1837 (12)

77 — Rev. Lansdown Guilding(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)View of the barren summit of Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken below the chain cable spouts in the river Rabaca

78 — Rev. Lansdown Guilding(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)View of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken near the mouth of the river Rabaca

79 — Rev. Lansdown Guilding(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)A view of the new crater of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken from the north and west brink

80 — Rev. Lansdown Guilding(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)A view of the old crater of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken from the eastern brink

81 — A serpentine bowl with regular vertical ribbing

82 — Arthur Edward Davies(British, 1893-1989)The Quayside, King's Lynn

83 — Philip Wilson Steer, OM, NEAC(British, 1860-1942)Near Stroud, Gloucestershire

84AR — John Cyril Harrison(British, 1898-1985)Pheasants in a winter landscape

85AR — Paul Maze(French, 1887-1979)Ireland

86AR — Bernard Lorjou(French, 1908-1986)Still life with flower and jug unframed

87 — Sir Sidney Nolan C.B.E., O.M., R.A.(Australian, 1917-1992)Kelly II

88 — Robin Hill(born Australia 1932)Boobook Owls

89AR — Patrick Procktor, R.A., R.W.S.(British, 1936-2003)Favourites Courtyard

90TP — Two large Indian flatweave carpets 20th century the rectangular example: 280 x 380cm, not including fringe; the square example: 326 x 336cm, not including fringe

91TP — An early David Linley maple and stained sycamore canterbury in the Art Deco style

92AR — Edward Bawden R.A.(British, 1903-1989)Audley End House

93AR — Patrick Procktor, R.A., R.W.S.(British, 1936-2003)Sarum (North-West view of Salisbury Cathedral)

94AR — David Gentleman(British, 1930)Dunstanburgh Castle

95TP — A Victorian mahogany mauve upholstered armchair

96 — A French raised silk and metal thread embroidered needlework, later mounted onto a cushionThe needlework late 18th century

Specialist contacts

Ella Jerman-Riddell

Madeleine Cater

Charlie Thomas

Bids (UK)

News and stories

Lady Anne Glenconner: My Life in Objects

A Farquhar Legacy: Aristocratic Treasures with Ties to Napoleon III Offered at Bonhams New Bond Street

Bonhams to Offer Highlights From The Collection of Lady Glenconner

Additional information

Auction information

Lot Symbols

Related Departments

Auction Viewings

Conditions of Sale

49^TP —
A matched set of six ebonised, parcel gilt and painted dining armchairs
Early 20th century and later, in the George III style

50^TP,Y —
A George III satinwood, rosewood crossbanded, boxwood and ebony line inlaid serpentine chest
Circa 1785

51^TP —
A Regency carved giltwood day bed
Early 19th century, in the manner of Marsh and Tatham

52^TP —
A pair of Victorian simulated bamboo and painted bedside cupboards
Third quarter 19th century, in the Chinese taste

53^TP —
A cream painted tester bed
20th century

54^TP —
Two pairs of silk curtains, in Lady Anne fabric

55^TP —
A large floral needlepoint carpet
Probably 20th century, in the French style 425cm x 303cm overall

56^TP —
A vintage Marmet coach built pram
Circa 1968

57^TP —
A three fold turned pine 'railing' screen
Second half 20th century

58^TP —
A Regency style mahogany canterbury, together with a music score by William Walton

59^TP —
An early 20th century stained beech coffee table stool

60^TP —
A mahogany and fiddleback mahogany octagonal occasional table
20th century, in the William IV style

61^TP —
A vintage Millson coach built pram
Circa 1968

62^TP —
A French late 19th/early 20th century cherrywood lit en bateau

63 —
Dutch School
18th Century
A study of roses, primula and sweat peas

64 —
Thomas Churchyard
(British, 1798-1865)
A woodland walk

65 —
William Maw Egley
(British, 1826-1916)
Children at Play

66 —
Emma Brownlow
(1832-1905)
Cadogan Pier, Chelsea

67^TP —
Thomas Smith of Derby
(active Britain, 1745-1767)
The Cullen Arabian held by a groom, before a landscape with classical ruins

68 —
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., ARA, RWS(British, 1833-1898)
The Letter

69 —
Fanny Jane Bayfield
(British, fl. 1872-1897)
Arnum Lilies

70 —
English School
(20th Century)
Un-Dressage; Un-Covert

71^AR —
Achilleas Droungas
(Greek, born 1940)
Measure of Understanding

72 —
Michelangelo Meucci
(Italian, 1840-1890)
Hanging Songbirds

73^AR —
Carl Toms
(British, 1927-1999)
The Peacock Ball:

74 —
Carl Toms (British, 1927-1999): a silk ballgown designed for Lady Glenconner for the Peacock Ball
1986

75 —
Carl Toms (British, 1927-1999): a hand made turquoise silk Indian gown worn by Lady Glenconner at the Peacock ball
1986

76 —
[CADDY (LIEUT. JOHN HERBERT)
Scenery of the Windward & Leeward Islands], Ackermann & Co., 1837 (12)

77 —
Rev. Lansdown Guilding
(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)
View of the barren summit of Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken below the chain cable spouts in the river Rabaca

78 —
Rev. Lansdown Guilding
(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)
View of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken near the mouth of the river Rabaca

79 —
Rev. Lansdown Guilding
(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)
A view of the new crater of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken from the north and west brink

80 —
Rev. Lansdown Guilding
(Saint Vincent 1797-1831 Bermuda)
A view of the old crater of the Morne Soufrière - St. Vincent, taken from the eastern brink

81 —
A serpentine bowl with regular vertical ribbing

82 —
Arthur Edward Davies
(British, 1893-1989)
The Quayside, King's Lynn

83 —
Philip Wilson Steer, OM, NEAC
(British, 1860-1942)
Near Stroud, Gloucestershire

84^AR —
John Cyril Harrison
(British, 1898-1985)
Pheasants in a winter landscape

85^AR —
Paul Maze
(French, 1887-1979)
Ireland

86^AR —
Bernard Lorjou
(French, 1908-1986)
Still life with flower and jug unframed

87 —
Sir Sidney Nolan C.B.E., O.M., R.A.
(Australian, 1917-1992)
Kelly II

88 —
Robin Hill
(born Australia 1932)
Boobook Owls

89^AR —
Patrick Procktor, R.A., R.W.S.
(British, 1936-2003)
Favourites Courtyard

90^TP —
Two large Indian flatweave carpets
20th century the rectangular example: 280 x 380cm, not including fringe; the square example: 326 x 336cm, not including fringe

91^TP —
An early David Linley maple and stained sycamore canterbury in the Art Deco style

92^AR —
Edward Bawden R.A.
(British, 1903-1989)
Audley End House

93^AR —
Patrick Procktor, R.A., R.W.S.
(British, 1936-2003)
Sarum (North-West view of Salisbury Cathedral)

94^AR —
David Gentleman
(British, 1930)
Dunstanburgh Castle

95^TP —
A Victorian mahogany mauve upholstered armchair

96 —
A French raised silk and metal thread embroidered needlework, later mounted onto a cushion
The needlework late 18th century