After a hugely successful sale honouring the wonderful and eclectic collections of the late John Scott-Oldfield, the estate of the late Sam and Althea Lloyd and the late Sir John Craven, our Fine Interiors teams' thoughts now gradually wander to their next celebration of connoisseurship, history and storytelling, and who and what they might be.
21 March 2023
But what defines a collection?
Some describe it as items that have an intrinsic relationship between them; they are extraordinary, special and create a sense of appreciation and purpose for the avid collector. The origins can be traced back to the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Babylonia, China, and India where they gathered objects of particular significance in temples, tombs, and sanctuaries. Whereas in the west, the intention of collecting art became more acutely developed during the Hellenistic period (4th–1st century BC). Although it was only with the rise of the Roman Empire, that art collecting became a highly sought after pursuit due to the conception of the art market.
We are as ever, looking for interesting and uniquely decorative collections for our Fine Interiors sale. Helping to create narratives and carefully curated spaces that restore, refresh, and revitalise the pieces that we are privileged to be entrusted with.
From vibrant contemporary spaces to delightful treasure troves of historical significance, our team aim to fully immerse the feel and intrinsic relationships of your personal collections into our catalogues, whether it’s an important individual piece, or multiple.
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Our Fine Interiors department prides itself on the skilfully combined aesthetic of bold, vibrant textiles, colonial furniture, impressive sculpture, decorative works of art, Continental furniture and high-quality contemporary furnishings. Your items will be expertly marketed and exposed to a vast international audience, with our previous sale attracting bidders from over fifteen different countries, including Hong Kong, Australia, the US and Canada.
Your items will be illustrated and described in a way that encapsulates their intricacies and unique characteristics in both print and online on our website.
If you would like to sell with us, we’d love to know.
Please contact the department at fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk or 01279 817778
The term ‘Company School’ refers to a genre of painting that emerged in India in the late 18th and 19th centuries, flourishing under the patronage of British East India Company officials, their families, and other European residents in India. Sworders Asian & Islamic Art department is pleased to present a curated selection of these wonderfully insightful works in their next auction on Friday 15 May.
20 April 2026
A fascinating group of 42 lots from the Sir Thomas Longmore library feature in our Books, Manuscripts and Maps auction, offering a rare insight into Victorian military medicine and reform. Highlights include two letters by Florence Nightingale, alongside annotated books and personal volumes from Longmore’s own collection.
16 April 2026
A remarkable group of books from the library of Professor C.J.F. Dowsett will feature in our April Books, Manuscripts and Maps sale. The collection reflects a lifetime of scholarship in Armenian, Iranian and Near Eastern studies.
16 April 2026