Henry and Ernest Rubin

Lynch House was acquired by brothers Henry (1908-1990) and Ernest Rubin (1909-1986) shortly after the war. It has been enjoyed by the younger generations of the family, who spent their childhood in the house, to this day. The two brothers had acquired the Pelham Galleries in 1928 with the help of their father, a distinguished painter and restorer of old masters, and by the 1950s they had built it into one of the leading international antiques dealerships of the of the post-war period. Henry, who spent every weekend of the year in the house, was President of the British Antiques Dealers association for several terms and twice President of C.I.N.O.A, the Confédération Internationale de Négociants en Oeuvres d’Art. He was personally responsible for the landmark C.I.N.O.A exhibition in 1962, the first major non-commercial exhibition held by dealers in a national museum. Pelham Galleries continued to be active in London and Paris until 2020 and was considered one of the world’s most prestigious antique dealing establishments exhibiting in all the major fairs in Europe and America.

The Collection at Lynch House

The particular interest of the current dispersal is that it represents a significant proportion of a fine country-house collection formed in the first twenty years after the war and preserved in a sort of time capsule ever since. The furniture was chosen by these two renowned experts in a golden period of collecting for fine English furniture. Little or nothing in the house has changed since the mid 1960s, now sixty years ago.

One of the early acquisitions was the splendid Soho Tapestry depicting Bacchanalian Children from the celebrated Weald Hall series. In addition to a particularly refined sabicu tripod table attributed to Thomas Chippendale, there is a superb architectural secretaire cabinet attributed to William Hallett acquired by the brothers from Wentworth Woodhouse and an outstanding group of satinwood furniture, some fifteen pieces in all. These include a fine demi-lune commode and secretaire-cabinet attributed to Gillows, a superlative painted Pembroke table and an exceptional Regency games table crossbanded in zebra wood. There is even a clock in satinwood by the distinguished London maker Ellicott. The dining room furniture is all of the highest quality including an outstanding Regency giltwood convex mirror and a beautifully patinated set of six Chippendale period carved chairs.

Decorative arts include a group of Chinese glass pictures, fine silver and tea-caddies, and a particularly finely sculpted Italian version of the Venus Callipygia. The garden furniture comprises fine items in wrought iron, stone terracotta and includes three fine dated lead water cisterns.

It is sad for the family to part with this exquisite home but, as ever, “Tempus Fugit” and it is to be hoped that these highly attractive pieces will give great pleasure to their new owners.

Collection Highlights

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Auction Details

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

Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids. 

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Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE, UK

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

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Further information:
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