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Sale Announcement | Lifetimes in Design: The Collections of Christopher Smallwood, and Niall Hobhouse | 13 May 2026
On Wednesday 13 May, Dreweatts will present the collections of two luminaries in British design in the auction Lifetimes in Design: The Collections of Christopher Smallwood, and Niall Hobhouse. This auction unites the distinctive collections of architectural tastemakers Christopher Smallwood and Niall Hobhouse, bringing together two deeply personal yet complementary visions of design. Each collection reflects its owner’s approach to the aesthetic, shaped by a shared commitment to craftsmanship, historical depth, and intellectual curiosity.
The Collection of Christopher Smallwood
Christopher Smallwood founded his eponymous architectural practice in 1976, developing an approach that blended historic sensitivity with contemporary innovation. His work was defined by a thoughtful grounding in context and a nuanced understanding of how clients wish to inhabit and experience their spaces. This philosophy was exemplified in projects including Goodwood House in the UK and High Point University, North Carolina, USA, and is reflected in the auction, which features highlights that track Smallwood’s life and career.
Smallwood’s distinctive approach to design was evident in his own homes at Pembroke Studios in Kensington and Melbury Abbas in Dorset, where classic English interiors were interwoven with modern and contemporary accents drawn from his diverse career. Works by Edward William Godwin, including a standout ‘Smallhythe’ mahogany table, offer a lens through which to trace the evolution of modern design, underscoring how Smallwood’s personal taste and professional sensibilities informed the pieces he chose to live with and collect.
The Collection of Niall Hobhouse
The collection offered from author and art dealer Niall Hobhouse similarly mirrors his professional journey - from his time at the gallery Eyre and Hobhouse, which specialised in Indian company school pictures, to his later years as an art advisor focusing on Anglo-Indian art and architectural projects - in particular, his founding of Drawing Matters, established to explore the role of drawing in architectural practice, education, and exhibition.
Originating largely from The Diary House, Hadspen, his home and office near Bruton, the collection demonstrates a dialogue between historical and modern design, in turn marrying his passion for western and eastern art: multiple cultural conversations between objects and works of art, reflect Hobhouse’s architecturally informed approach to interiors and his nuanced integration of past and present in a cohesive interior.
Auction Details
Wednesday 13 May 2026, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE
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Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art in Collaboration with Watts 1874 (Day One)
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