Born in 1939 and educated at Eton, Sir David Seton Wills lived within the long shadow of the Wills family legacy, whose name had for generations been associated with W.D. & H.O. Wills and the development of Imperial Tobacco. When he succeeded to the baronetcy in 1983, he did so not as a figure of display but as a custodian, assuming responsibility for the family’s land and business interests with discretion and resolve. Littlecote House and its wider estate near Hungerford lay at the heart of his life.

Together with Gillian, Lady Wills, Sir David became the thoughtful guardian of the collection first assembled by Sir Ernest Salter Wills at Littlecote. Following the sale of the house in 1985, what they retained was not merely preserved but carefully and deliberately expanded. Their approach to collecting was instinctive and unhurried, shaped by curiosity, confidence, and an increasingly refined eye. Regular visits to auction houses and dealers, including Dreweatts, Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Mallets, informed their vision for their new home at Tower House.

Time spent in Scotland and at their home in Zimbabwe further enriched their understanding of comfort, purpose, and beauty. These experiences found quiet expression in the collection itself. Scottish furniture, often restrained and thoughtful, sits naturally alongside English, continental and global works, creating a harmony that feels lived-in rather than designed.

Highlights include mahogany dining chairs attributed to Alexander Peter and the exuberant birds painted by Jacob Bogdani, both formerly at Littlecote. Each object was chosen not to impress, but to belong, resulting in a collection imbued with rare coherence and authenticity. Shaped as much by daily life as by historical significance, it speaks softly of continuity, curiosity, and a legacy carried forward with humility and care.

Commenting on the collection, Head of House Sales and Private Collections, Joe Robinson said, “This is a collection defined not by acquisition, but by judgement. Sir David and Lady Wills collected with an innate sense of balance and responsibility. Every object had its place, and together they form a whole that feels deeply considered, quietly confident, and entirely authentic.”

Auction Highlights

Auction Details

Tuesday 3 March 2026, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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