The Art of Craft

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A devoted lover of craftsmanship - particularly embroidery and pottery - Elizabeth lived at the idyllic Tulip Tree House for over forty years, restoring it with sensitivity and vision from a near ruin into a warmly layered and comfortable home.

^{The Selected Contents of Tulip Tree House, Great Tew, Oxfordshire | © Ben Nicholson}

An avid reader and lifelong scholar, she assembled an extensive library, much of which was later donated to her alma mater, Somerville College, Oxford. This intellectual curiosity and depth of interest informed her collecting, lending it both discernment and quiet authority. Her deeply personal eye is reflected throughout the collection.

^{The Selected Contents of Tulip Tree House, Great Tew, Oxfordshire | © Ben Nicholson}

Notable highlights include a rare and charming pair of early silk and wool needlepoint pictures dated 1730; a Regency silk and hairwork picture of Lincoln Cathedral; Victorian samplers and silkwork panels; and a fascinating group of entomological and botanical studies, including works by William Goodall (1757-1844).

^{A pair of silk and wool needlepoint pictures, second quarter of the 18th century (£300-500)}

Elizabeth’s appreciation for surface, texture and patina extended beyond textiles to furniture and decorative arts. The collection encompasses a rich breadth of styles and periods, from 17th-century oak furniture and William and Mary tables to George II mirrors, rococo giltwood frames, naïve hunting scenes, Continental pomological studies and a striking baroque carved pine figure of Bacchus. Her enduring passion for pottery is delightfully represented by extensive collections of 19th- and 20th century jelly moulds, assembled over many years.

^{A George II walnut side chair, c.1730 (£300-500)}

Lovingly formed over a lifetime, the collection reflects an instinctive understanding of harmony - pieces of varying date and origin united by their gentle timeworn surfaces and honest patina. At Tulip Tree House, these objects were not merely displayed but lived with, contributing to interiors of warmth, character and quiet scholarship.

^{English School, 19th century, Huntsman and hounds pursuing a stag (£800-1,200)}

Further paintings from the collection will be offered in Sworders’ Old Master, British and European Art auction in May (please click here if you wish to to set a reminder).

Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 March | 10am

fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

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