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London, 11 November 2019 – Spetchley Park, the glory that is one of Britain's great Regency houses, is set to reveal for the very first time a whole sequence of fascinating stories from its long and eventful past. On 11 December 2019, Sotheby's will offer some 750 objects that together unlock these previously untold stories, at the same time allowing for a first-ever glimpse inside a house that for the last 400 years has been closed to the public eye. The sale, to be held in #London, springs from a need to make this historic house into a home. After inheriting Spetchley two years ago, Henry Berkeley, the youngest son of the late John Berkeley, rekindled his love of the house further to moving back to the estate with his wife and children, but he has since become conscious of the need to reimagine it for a young family in the 21st century.
Henry Berkeley commented: "Spetchley, despite its imposing presence in the Worcestershire countryside, is first and foremost a home. We have been very fortunate to have inherited it and want to renovate it into a family home suitable for the 21st century. There is much in this wonderful collection that is duplicated or not pertinent to our vision and requirements where children can roam free without the pressures of being around pieces that are too valuable to risk. We therefore have taken the difficult but necessary decision to put some of the collection to the market so that it can be nurtured by those who will understand its provenance. The Spetchley collection is iconic in that it has remained in the same house since it was built over 200 years ago. The sale will also allow us to undertake the enormous task of this renovation and so create a wonderful legacy for future generations as well as provide a beautiful backdrop to the magical gardens, enjoyed by so many visitors through the summer."
David Macdonald, Sotheby's Head of UK Single Owner Sales, said: "One of the glories of Britain is the Country House – a repository for 'things', accumulated over time like the pebbles on a beach, polished by memory, associations and stories from the past. Spetchley is just such a house. With so little changed for more than eighty years, Henry Berkeley has chosen to transform a stately pile into a family home, at the same time respecting this magnificent house's artistic heritage. Spetchley really is at the heart of everything Henry does in managing the estate, and with that came the decision to make some changes and effectively take Spetchley into the 21st century."
The auction of Property from the Berkeley Collection comprises objects from the house's attics, stores, state rooms and domestic offices – objects which illustrate not only inheritance but the family's ancestry, their passion for collecting, the practical considerations that living in such a house brings, and, importantly, a sense of fun enjoyed by each generation.
FULL PRESS RELEASE ATTACHED, WITH FURTHER DETAILS OF THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AND THE COLLECTION, TOGETHER WITH A SELECTION OF HIGHLIGHTS WITH ESTIMATES, INCLUDING:
Lot 76 An Edwardian Silver Mechanical Pig Table Bell, William Hornby, London, 1909, Retailed by Asprey
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