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The Collection of Anne Gainsford (1935-2025)
Chorley’s have been instructed to sell the collection of Anne Gainsford, a set, costume and hat designer for the theatre, films and television. The interior of her Richmond home reflected her many interests, including military uniform, opera, millinery, theatre and textiles. Her knowledge of historical styles and techniques made her the perfect choice to produce the top hat worn by Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (1995)
A deluge of Bibles heads to auction
A remarkable collection of over 250 historic Bibles, prayer books and other religious works, carefully assembled over half a century, will be offered for sale in 80 lots at Chorley’s auctioneers on 23 September. The extraordinary assembly offers collectors, institutions, and bibliophiles an unparalleled opportunity to acquire a wide variety of the world’s most influential book. The collection includes Bibles in English, Latin, Welsh, and German, dating from the 16th century onwards.
Lord Byron letters come to auction
Two intimate autograph letters by the great Romantic poet Lord George Byron, offering a rare glimpse into the early life and scandalous affairs of one of Britain’s most celebrated literary figures, are coming to auction at Chorley’s. The letters, written in 1805 and 1808 to his London landlady and moneylender Mrs Massingberd, display two very different sides of Byron - the polite Cambridge undergraduate arranging his lodgings, and the notorious libertine dismissing a mistress.
This nostalgic auction promises a rare glimpse into British high street heritage, featuring a classic WH Smith delivery bicycle, historic signage and beautifully detailed scale models of a typical WH Smith store from the 1930s and 1950s. “It's a privilege to bring these fascinating and historically significant pieces to auction. They don’t just tell the story of WH Smith - they speak to a wider narrative about the evolution of British retail, design, and daily life throughout the 20th century.”
Important art and furniture at auction
The modern art and contemporary furniture from one of today’s most talked-about British country houses are to be offered for sale at auction. The exquisite former contents of Ready Token House, currently known to millions as the ‘Omaze Cotswolds’ property, will go under the hammer in the forthcoming Modern Art & Design sale at Cotswold-based Chorley’s auctioneers. Featured in Country Life, the interior design seamlessly blends English traditional with contemporary design.
An important collection of Edward Seago works
Edward Seago was and remains one of the most popular English landscape painters of the 20th Century. He was born and lived in Norfolk throughout his life his work shows the influence of the great East Anglian artists, from the 17th Century Dutch-inspired Norwich School, to John Constable and Sir Alfred Munnings. Known for his light-filled landscapes with vast skies and billowing clouds, he imbued his work with, what one critic described as 'an understated emotional language'
Discovery of a rare Salor tribal Torba in a private collection
There is always a giddy excitement when one explores items that have emerged from attics and outbuildings in grand houses. A cache of Turkoman torba (woven storage bags to the uninitiated) had remained, relatively forgotten in a large attic chest and had been rediscovered by the family in a reorganization of the home. An unmistakably exciting discovery, unpublished and in private hands since at least the early 20th century – this Salor turned some heads – it certainly did ours.
Johannes Gutenberg and William Caxton
We often marvel at art and artefacts that have survived centuries or even millennia relatively unharmed. The survival of ephemeral and fragile works is all the more astounding in many cases. In advance of Chorley's upcoming auction of Books and Manuscripts that includes a leaf from the 42-line Gutenberg bible, a leaf from Caxton's Polychronicon and several illuminated manuscript leaves and fragments, we muse on the history and importance of incunabula and manuscript fragments.
Chorley’s announces The Gloucestershire Society as 2025 Charity of the Year
Chorley’s is proud to align with The Gloucestershire Society, recognising the profound impact the charity has on addressing poverty and deprivation in its local communities. Throughout the year, Chorley’s will integrate the Gloucestershire Society’s mission into auctions and events, actively promoting the charity and raising funds to support its initiatives. “We are thrilled to announce The Gloucestershire Society as our Charity of the Year for 2025"