Conceived as a modern cabinet of curiosities, the auction brings together an exceptional selection of fine furniture, sculpture, mirrors, paintings and works of art spanning centuries of artistic expression. Carefully curated by the specialists at Dreweatts, every piece has been chosen not only for its rarity and provenance, but also for the visual relationships it establishes with the surrounding works, resulting in a scenography where history unfolds through carefully orchestrated juxtapositions.

Within this carefully composed setting, three distinctive textiles from the Watts 1874 archive provide a richly textured backdrop to the collection, each contributing its own historical provenance and decorative character. Hampstead Verdure, Constantinople Terracotta and Sainval Langau Green frame precious furniture, classical sculpture, antique mirrors, paired animal figures, monumental vases and elegant amphorae, illustrating how exceptional textiles enhance the presentation of equally exceptional works of art while inviting collectors to imagine these objects within new interiors.

Inspired by the great verdure tapestries of the seventeenth century, Hampstead Verdure evokes the wooded landscapes and luxuriant foliage that have long shaped the English picturesque tradition. Named after the district where the Watts story first began, the design recalls the countryside around Hampstead, immortalised by John Constable, whose celebrated paintings established the area as one of the defining subjects of British art. It captures that same poetic appreciation of nature, bringing a distinctly English sensibility to the auction.

Equally evocative, Constantinople Terracotta recalls the artistic exchanges between the Byzantine world, the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe, whose magnificent silks, velvets and woven textiles profoundly influenced European decorative taste. Its intricate ornament and warm terracotta palette reflect centuries of cultural exchange, reminding us that the decorative arts have always travelled across borders, enriching artistic traditions through craftsmanship and commerce.

Completing the composition, Sainval Langau Green is reproduced from an exceptionally rare hand block-printed textile dating from the late nineteenth century, believed to have been printed only once in France or Belgium during the 1880s or 1890s. Preserved within the remarkable collection of Belgian industrialist and celebrated collector Albert Van Damme (whose family’s brewing enterprise would later become today’s AB InBev), the fabric takes its name from one of his residences, Sainval, where art, collecting and decoration formed an integral part of everyday life. Reintroduced by Watts 1874, the design celebrates the rediscovery of rare archival treasures and the importance of preserving Europe’s rich decorative heritage.

Moving effortlessly from classical antiquity to the nineteenth century and beyond, the auction celebrates the richness of artistic movements and the extraordinary diversity of the decorative arts. Every object bears witness to a different period, a different maker and a different artistic vision, yet together they compose a coherent decorative whole where history becomes a source of inspiration for contemporary interiors.

More than an auction, the collaboration between Dreweatts 1759 and Watts 1874 is an invitation to dream, to collect and to travel through time. It reflects a shared belief that the finest interiors are shaped through curiosity, cultural knowledge and a discerning eye, where exceptional antiques and historic textiles continue to enrich contemporary interiors with history, character and artistry.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 September 2026, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids.

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VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Friday 4 September: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 5 September: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 6 September: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 7 September: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 8 September: 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 9 September: 9am-1pm
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Friday 4 September

Further Information: 
General enquiries: + 44 (0) 1635 553 553 | furniture@dreweatts.com
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com 

Discover more from Watts 1874

Website: watts1874.co.uk
Instagram: @watts1874

+44 (0) 20 7376 4486
sales@watts1874.co.uk

Watts 1874, Second Floor, North Dome, Unit 219B, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XE