On Tuesday 13 May, we held the auction Parnham Park: A Modern Grand Tour on the Jurassic Coast, offering the iconic collection of visionary art collector James Perkins. The collection was an exceptional amalgamation of historical treasures, natural history artefacts, and innovative designs, embodying a unique artistic vision. It unveiled a philosophy that the great houses of the past need not remain static relics but can evolve into vibrant spaces for modern living, offering bold expressions of contemporary identity and creativity.
The auction drew collectors and designers from 33 countries around the globe. After an intense 10.5 hours of spirited bidding, the auction achieved a total of £2.2 million, 170% of the presale estimate, with an impressive 92% of lots finding new homes.
Commenting on the results, Head of House Sales & Private Collections, Joe Robinson said, "The collection displayed the extraordinary taste and adventurous spirit of James Perkins who has shaped the future vision for Parnham, with a collection that spanned the ages and represented the pinnacle of artistic expression and curation. The result speaks of the enduring allure for expressive collecting and impressive vision. As our time Parnham Park draws to a close we wanted to take a moment to look back and thank everyone who made it such a special sale, from suppliers, carriers and the Parnham team, to the Perkins family, and of course the global audience from 33 countries who came to experience the magic and went on to participate in the auction!
"The proceeds will be used to further restore Parnham Park, and Dreweatts are proud of our role in helping preserve this house as an important landmark in the Dorset landscape."
Here we take a look at some of the auction highlights.
Auction Results
Parnham Park: A Modern Grand Tour on the Jurassic Coast
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:
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