East Meets West Country
The Collection of the Late Sir John Craven
Sir John Craven of Long Newnton, Tetbury and Belgravia, London, was one of the City’s most influential dealmakers in the latter half of the 20th century, having had a central role in the self-reinvention of the Square Mile after the Big Bang of 1986. Amongst many significant city and international banking roles, he was Chief Executive and then Chairman of Morgan Grenfell, brokering its controversial but successful sale to Deutsche Bank in 1990. For thirty-five years, Sir John took great pleasure in owning and developing both the Barn, Long Newnton, and Sutherland House in Eaton Square, which he decorated with his wife, Lady Ning Craven.
The two took great enjoyment in adorning each property with a carefully chosen and seamless blend of antique and contemporary European and Asian pieces. As seen in their Long Newnton home, their design choices clearly extolled the virtues of vibrant hues and bold patterns, to juxtapose with the natural textures and earthy tones of the Barn’s Cotswold stone walls and timber beams.
