On Tuesday 12 May, Dreweatts had the honour of offering the private collection of British designer, Antony Little. Antony Little (1942–2024) belongs to that rarefied generation of post-war British creatives whose influence, though often exercised behind the scenes, proved instrumental in shaping the visual identity of an era. A designer, illustrator, and artist of singular imagination, Little stood at the forefront of the aesthetic revolution that came to define 1960s London, an age in which fashion, art, music, and interior design coalesced into a new and vividly expressive cultural language.
The auction offered a rare glimpse into the creative life of Antony, offering personal pieces from his Chelsea home, which exemplified his unwavering commitment to beauty, as well as to recognise the lasting significance of his contribution to British design. As such, the sale attracted an engaged international audience, who were all eager to acquire a piece of Antony's collection, resulting in a 99% sell-through rate and totalling £1.02 million, (290% of the pre-sale estimate).
Commenting on the results, Head of House Sales and Private Collections, Joe Robinson said, "'Little by Little’ proved to be a remarkable celebration of Antony Little’s singular eye and enduring influence. The spirited international bidding reflected not only the rarity and originality of the collection, but also the deep emotional connection collectors continue to feel towards the great creative tastemakers of post-war Britain. Antony’s world, richly layered, intellectually curious and unapologetically theatrical, resonated profoundly with buyers seeking authenticity, provenance and distinctive design. The exceptional results underline the continuing strength of the market for iconic single-owner collections, particularly those that capture both a defining cultural moment and the unmistakable personality of their creator."
In the lead up to the sale, we were also pleased to sit down with interior designer, Nina Campbell who shared her memories and insights into Antony's life and career.
We have an exciting auction calendar throughout the year for house sales, private collections and all specialists categories. If you would like more information, whether it be for jewellery, watches, wine, modern art and design, Old Masters, a private collection or anything else we would love to hear from you:
House Sales and Private Collections
Enquiries: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | housesales@dreweatts.com
To request a valuation online, click here
Press enquiries: press@dreweatts.com
Sign up to email alerts
Get a free auction valuation from our specialists. Complete our easy online form and upload photos of your items.
Start ValuationSign up for auction alerts and our monthly newsletter to receive expert analysis and insights from our specialists and keep up-to-date on forthcoming auctions, valuation days and previews.