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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

How to buy

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

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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.

145 —
Carlo Grubacs
(Italian, 1812-1870)
View of the Piazzetta from the Bacino di San Marco

146 —
English School
18th Century
Bacchus and Ariadne; and Apollo and Daphne (2)

147^Ф,Y —
An extensive matched and part Hourglass and King's pattern silver and silver plated service of flatware and cutlery, in two canteen boxes
The majority William Eley I & William Fearn, London, 1818 and Chawner & Co, London, 1845, and later (441)

148 —
A pair of Russian 19th century gilt bronze figural groups mounted on malachite veneered plinth bases

149 —
A George III and later gilt-brass horse pedometer case

150 —
A pair of Berlin (KPM) style magpies
Late 19th / early 20th century

151 —
A Victorian silver vase
SB, possibly Susannah Brasted, London, 1889

152 —
A pair of French late 19th century gilt-bronze and white marble cassolettes
In the Louis XVI style

153^TP,Y —
A Regence kingwood, rosewood and tulipwood crossbanded bombé commode
Circa 1730

154^TP —
A Louis XVI tulipwood, amaranth and gilt bronze mounted commode
By Claude-Charles Saunier (1735-1807), circa 1770

155^TP —
A pair of George III carved giltwood mirrors
Possibly Irish

156^TP —
A French late 19th century gilt brass and cut rock crystal and glass eight-light chandelier

157^TP —
A pair of early 20th century white painted, giltwood and gesso torchères
In the George III style

158 —
A George III Irish silver jug
Dublin, circa 1760

159 —
A selection of four silver and silver-gilt beakers
Various makers, London 1804 to 1925 (4)

160 —
A selection of silver items
Various dates and makers (6)

161^TP —
A fine French kingwood, gilt brass mounted and cut-brass and pewter strung bureau plat
Late 19th century, in the Louis XIV style

162^TP,Y —
A Victorian kingwood, rosewood and gilt bronze mounted bureau plat
Mid-19th century, in the Louis XV style

Buyers' Obligations

Buyers' Premium and Charges

Payment Notices

Shipping Notices

Lady Glenconner, My Life in Objects & A Farquhar Legacy

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

145 — Carlo Grubacs(Italian, 1812-1870)View of the Piazzetta from the Bacino di San Marco

146 — English School18th CenturyBacchus and Ariadne; and Apollo and Daphne (2)

147Ф,Y — An extensive matched and part Hourglass and King's pattern silver and silver plated service of flatware and cutlery, in two canteen boxes The majority William Eley I & William Fearn, London, 1818 and Chawner & Co, London, 1845, and later (441)

148 — A pair of Russian 19th century gilt bronze figural groups mounted on malachite veneered plinth bases

149 — A George III and later gilt-brass horse pedometer case

150 — A pair of Berlin (KPM) style magpiesLate 19th / early 20th century

151 — A Victorian silver vase SB, possibly Susannah Brasted, London, 1889

152 — A pair of French late 19th century gilt-bronze and white marble cassolettesIn the Louis XVI style

153TP,Y — A Regence kingwood, rosewood and tulipwood crossbanded bombé commodeCirca 1730

154TP — A Louis XVI tulipwood, amaranth and gilt bronze mounted commode By Claude-Charles Saunier (1735-1807), circa 1770

155TP — A pair of George III carved giltwood mirrorsPossibly Irish

156TP — A French late 19th century gilt brass and cut rock crystal and glass eight-light chandelier

157TP — A pair of early 20th century white painted, giltwood and gesso torchèresIn the George III style

158 — A George III Irish silver jug Dublin, circa 1760

159 — A selection of four silver and silver-gilt beakers Various makers, London 1804 to 1925 (4)

160 — A selection of silver items Various dates and makers (6)

161TP — A fine French kingwood, gilt brass mounted and cut-brass and pewter strung bureau platLate 19th century, in the Louis XIV style

162TP,Y — A Victorian kingwood, rosewood and gilt bronze mounted bureau platMid-19th century, in the Louis XV style