Political scandals come and go and today we are seldom surprised when our elected representatives fall below the standards expected of them. However, back in 1963 when it emerged that John Profumo had lied to the House of Commons regarding an extramarital affair with the 19-year-old model Christine Keeler, the nation’s faith in the ruling classes was shaken to its core.
20 January 2022
The credibility of the Macmillan government was severely damaged and the fallout contributed to the Conservative government's defeat the following year. The relationship between politicians and the public was never quite the same again.
Almost 60 years later dramatisations of the Profumo Affair continue to appear on stage and screen. Interest in Keeler and the showgirl Mandy Rice-Davies has seldom subsided.
Sworders’ Out of the Ordinary sale on 15-16 February includes a series of candid photographs of both Keeler and Rice-Davies taken at the height of their notoriety.
A rare nude studio photograph of Mandy Rice-Davies was taken by an unknown photographer sometime in the early 1960s. At the time the showgirl from Llanelli was mixing in surprisingly important social circles, enjoying the company of Lord Astor at Cliveden. Famously, when challenged in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her. She replied: “He would, wouldn’t he?” The photo, originally purchased from the estate of the late actor Peter Wyngarde, is guided at £500-700.
CHRISTINE KEELER,
Ray Bellisario (1936-2018): 'Freedom - First Day Out Of Prison, Lying In A Field' (Full Length) Signed By Christine Keeler, 1964
£800-1,200
For her role in the labyrinthine events of the Profumo Affair, Christine Keeler was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for perjury. A series of photos in the sale were taken by Ray Bellisario (1936-2018) on the day she was released from Holloway prison in June 1964. The original negatives were purchased by the vendor in 2013 when a series of silver gelatin prints were made in an edition of ten, all signed by Keeler.
'Freedom - Laughing' and 'Freedom - Mini car' are expected to bring £400-600 each while ‘Freedom - First Day Out Of Prison, Lying In A Field' (Full Length) is guided at £800-1200.
A group three of glamour photos by unknown photographer, including one of the model topless, is expected to bring £400-600. The original negatives for these prints are held by the Christine Keeler family archive.
We are delighted to announce a substantial collection of hand-crafted items by the esteemed silver and goldsmith Stuart Devlin, debuting at our October Design auction. Characterised by Devlin's use of filigree work, unusual textures and the mixing of silver and silver-gilt to create two tone items, each piece displays minimalistic elegance.
20 August 2025
We are delighted to present an extraordinary collection of lots from the 1st Viscount Trenchard in our final Homes & Interiors sale, to be conducted live on Tuesday 2 September. Widely celebrated as the ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’ and the ‘patron saint of modern air power,’ this collection offers a rare opportunity to own pieces connected to a pivotal figure in military history.
18 August 2025
A cache of modern gold and gemset jewellery designed and created by antique dealer Ken Bolan will be offered on 24 September in our auction Ken Bolan | Nature Follows Form.
14 August 2025