My Collection by Drew Pritchard

I never saw myself as a collector but clearly, I have been all my life. There is no rhyme or reason to what I collect, it’s always just a feeling.

Letting a lot of these pieces go is a real stretch for me but I felt that I must give in to the process and many of my prized possessions are now in this beautifully presented catalogue. The pair of worn and dirty Howard chairs are probably the hardest pieces to let go. I remember finding them in a beautiful English country house where one was still being used and the other was forgotten about in an outbuilding. I fell in love with them instantly. They have clearly had quite a life and I have enjoyed their unpretentious comfort for well over a decade. Many times, I had been told by family and friends to have them restored and recovered. My mother would often remark that they were a disgrace and didn’t suit my tiny Welsh cottage, but I never gave in, I relished their dereliction. They felt like owning a rather shabby old Rolls Royce that people would tut-tut at in the street.

There are numerous pieces of outsider / Showman art in the sale, something I have collected for decades. I love the Heath Robinson approach to some of these things; there is an art in their rapid manufacture from inexpensive materials by untrained artists that fills me with joy. Each one is clearly a one-off and from the ‘Hold on to your Hats’ sign I found in Barry Island to the scratch-built fairground models of trucks and ghost trains, the innocence of these pieces cannot be ignored.

Another area of my collecting and buying has always been 18th and 19th century furniture. There are examples of the Arts & Crafts and Aesthetic Movement (something I loved before I knew what it was) through to finer pieces by George Oakley and a desk from Thomas Chippendale’s workshop.

There does not have to be a reason to collect. There are no rules and nor should there be. Buy what you love, buy the broken, lost, and unloved pieces if they speak to you. Buy the very best of things whenever possible and relish the mix that they create; above all give in, be curious, assemble and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy the catalogue and the upcoming sale.

Watch the video and learn more about the collection

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Auction Details

Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 6 March, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in Newbury:
  • Friday 1 March: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 2 March: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 3 March: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 4 March: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 5 March: 8.30am-4pm
  • Wednesday 6 March: 8.30am-12 noon
• Remote Viewing Service | Available from Saturday 2 March
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Saturday 2 March
• Light refreshments are usually available on viewing and sale days.