London – Bonhams New Bond Street is proud to present A Farquhar Legacy alongside Lady Glenconner: My Life in Objects, a distinguished family collection passed down through generations, to be offered at auction on 18 November 2025. This remarkable collection traces its lineage to Sir Walter Rockcliffe Farquhar (1810–1900), a senior partner at the esteemed private bank Herries, Farquhar & Co., renowned for pioneering circular notes – the precursor to the traveller's cheque – and for its role as a principal financier to Britain's aristocracy and gentry.

The collection was later inherited by Ernest Farquhar (1853–1930) of Whiteway House, Devon, great-grandfather of the present owner. Ernest received the collection from his elder brother Alfred, who had inherited it from their father, Sir Harvie Morton Farquhar, who in turn had inherited it from Sir Walter. The collection remained at Whiteway for three generations, with a brief relocation during the First World War when the house served as a recovery hospital. During this time, the collection was safeguarded at the Victoria and Albert Museum's Bethnal Green outpost.

Following the sale of Whiteway in 1967, the collection moved to Redlynch House near Salisbury, where it remained until 2021. The last custodians, Adrian Farquhar (d. 1981) and his widow Ann Farquhar (d. 2025), preserved the legacy with care and distinction.
According to family tradition, following the Napoleonic Wars, Herries, Farquhar & Co. invested in French bonds and established ties with Napoleon III. It is reputed that the deposed Emperor was offered sanctuary by the Farquhar family at their Eaton Square residence in London before relocating to St James's Street. In gratitude, and unable to repay his debts through conventional means, Napoleon III is said to have gifted the family with treasures from prominent French royal palaces. These were reportedly transported by bullock cart across northern France and shipped to Britain – a story that adds a layer of intrigue and historical resonance to this exceptional collection.

One of the highlights of the upcoming sale is a Louis XIV stained tortoiseshell bureau mazarin, estimated at £8,000–12,000. This exceptional piece features gilt-brass mounts and intricate cut brass inlay, with the rectangular top profusely decorated in both première-partie and contre-partie techniques. A centrally inlaid contre-partie figure adds to its grandeur, and a label on the reverse reveals restoration by Henry J. Hatfields. The bureau is possibly attributable to Nicolas Sageot (1666–1731), a master of the period.

Additionally, there will be a fine mid-19th century English mechanical writing table, estimated at £8,000–12,000. Crafted in tulipwood, purplewood, holly, and sycamore with gilt bronze mounts, this table à écrire is a faithful copy of a celebrated Louis XVI style piece by Martin Carlin, circa 1775, once housed at Longleat. It reflects the French taste that flourished in England during the second quarter of the 19th century, championed by cabinetmakers such as Robert Blake and Edward Holmes Baldock, whose workshops were based in London.

Also featured is a French late 19th century eight-light chandelier, estimated at £2,000–3,000. Crafted in gilt brass and adorned with cut rock crystal and glass, this elegant fixture has been later adapted and drilled for electricity, blending antique craftsmanship with modern utility.

Another standout is a Louis XV kingwood table en chiffonnière, estimated at £2,000–3,000. Made circa 1761 and later by Louis Moreau (1740–1802), the piece follows a model by Bernard van Risen Burgh (known as B.V.R.B), one of the most accomplished ébénistes of the Louis XV period. B.V.R.B was celebrated for his floral bois de bout marquetry and his innovative use of porcelain and lacquer, supplying furniture to Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.

Charlie Thomas, Head of Private and Iconic Collections at Bonhams commented: "The Farquhar Legacy is a remarkable testament to the enduring power of provenance. These objects have travelled through centuries, across continents, and through the hands of some of history's most fascinating figures. To offer them alongside Lady Glenconner's collection, rich with royal connections and cultural resonance, is a privilege. Together, they tell a story not just of taste and tradition, but of lives lived with style, substance, and history."