Devising a single, all-encompassing title for this collection has been no mean feat. The breadth of objects amassed by collector and dealer Paul Atkinson span continents and centuries - grand tour bronzes, Anglo-Indian carvings, Ottoman swords, African tribal masks, and European furniture - each reflecting his insatiable curiosity and lifelong passion for dealing. We are thrilled to announce the forthcoming two day sale, Paul Atkinson | The Nomadic Collector, taking place at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers on 13 and 14 May 2025.
Paul’s journey began in the heady 1970s trade, sourcing treasures from regional salerooms before opening his first shop in Matlock, Derbyshire. His keen entrepreneurial spirit and love of objects quickly propelled his business on to the international stage. In 1976, he shipped his first container to the USA and established a gallery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. By 1977, he was exporting English furniture to northern Holland while expanding into Pre-Columbian, tribal and ethnographic art. In 1979, he cemented his reputation by opening a gallery in the prestigious Louvre des Antiquaires in Paris, specialising in English period oak.
A master storyteller and charismatic conversationalist, Paul’s charm has opened countless doors, allowing him to acquire pieces from celebrities, aristocrats, artists and collectors alike. Many of the lots boast remarkable provenance and captivating stories - whether fishing with Bob Marley in Montego Bay, attending art exhibitions with Salvador Dalí or uncovering fossils from Charles Darwin’s cellars.
Throughout the 1980s, Paul’s relentless pursuit of the rare and remarkable took him across Europe, from Prague to Frankfurt to Barcelona. In 1987, he acquired Sydnope Hall in Derbyshire, a magnificent 38-bedroom neo-Gothic mansion and Charles Darwin's family seat. During its restoration, he unearthed fossils and ancient statue fragments, further enriching his ever-growing collection.
By 2007, Paul and his wife Vivien had relocated to southwest Mallorca with their two young daughters, leaving most of his collection in storage in the UK. With years of experience in the London Art Market and curating an important English furniture collection for a major international company, Vivien played a key role when the couple opened a 10,000-square-foot gallery in the island’s prime retail district. Their clientele included Peter Stringfellow, Hollywood actor Mads Mikkelsen, Abba’s Agnetha Fältskog, and other international figures drawn to the exquisite pieces they sourced - many of which now feature in this retirement sale, marking the culmination of a lifetime devoted to beauty and history.
Few have lived a life as rich in adventure and discovery as Paul Atkinson. Guided by insatiable curiosity and an unerring eye for the remarkable, Paul has spent decades assembling an extraordinary collection that spans continents, cultures, and centuries. From Grand Tour bronzes and Anglo-Indian carvings to Ottoman swords and African masks, each object holds a story of its own.
Ahead of the sale of his eclectic collection on 13–14 May, we sat down with Paul to uncover the tales behind the treasures, the moments that shaped his remarkable career, and the memories that bring this unique collection to life.
London (Selected Highlights)
22 April – 2 May (Weekdays, 11:00 – 18:00)
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, 15 Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4EZ
Stansted (Full Preview)
9, 11, 12 May (Weekdays, 10:00 – 16:00 | Sunday, 10:00 – 13:00 | Saturday Closed)
Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE
privatecollections@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778
