The 'Askew' Pattern

In de Gournay's Askew design an artfully interwoven landscape of mature flowering trees, lily filled ponds and ancient weathered rocks containing many species of beautifully painted birds contrives to look like a wild landscape, but is revealed as a Chinese garden designed to look natural by the thoughtfully positioned porcelain jardinières and hanging perches.

The inspiration for the design was a set of mid-18th century antique panels bought in London by Gerald & Mary Askew to furnish the Chinese Drawing Room they added to Bentley House with the assistance of the decorator Jean Hornak and the architect Raymond Erith, well known for having worked on 10 Downing Street. The house had originally been built on land granted to Lord Gage by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the permission of Henry VIII, and was still in the same family when purchased by the Askew's in 1937.

The Bentley drawing room paper has a striking and unusual white, grey and mauve coloured pattern on a deep green ground. The use of such monochromatic colours was relatively rare, but famously King George IV installed one in blue and white on a pink ground in the long gallery at Brighton Pavilion.

Hand-painted on a trio of rich backgrounds for the Autumn edition of Dreweatts Fine Furniture sale, each quartet of the Askew design makes use of almost monochromatic design colours to create striking interplay between a vivid ‘Arancio’ dyed silk, a weathered ‘Stone Ochre’ India tea paper and a deep ‘Amethyst’ slub silk.

The Chinoiserie Collection

de Gournay’s Chinoiserie collection is based on the historic Chinese wallpapers that sparked a craze for a ‘Chinese’ style in royal palaces and grand houses across the Western world as trade between Europe and China flourished in the 18th century. de Gournay's faithful recreations celebrate the beauty of these originals, whose popularity remains undimmed by the passage of time.

Dreweatts x de Gournay

Enhancing this photographic collaboration, the Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art auction will offer three exclusive lots featuring de Gournay’s 'Askew' Chinoiserie hand-painted panels (Lots 512-514). This provides a rare opportunity for design enthusiasts to acquire a piece of the brand’s signature craftsmanship at auction and integrate it into their own interiors.

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Auction Details

Auction:
Wednesday 10 & Thursday 11 September, 10.30am BST
Dreweatts, 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:
Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

• Friday 5 September: 10am-4pm
• Saturday 6 September: 10am-3pm
• Sunday 7 September: 10am-3pm
• Monday 8 September: 10am-4pm
• Tuesday 9 September: 10am-4pm
• Wednesday 10 September: 10am-4pm

Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Friday 5 September

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

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Website: degournay.com
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+44 (0) 20 7352 9988
info@degournay.com

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