Were you to look up ‘Tomasso Bros’ on the internet you will find it is ‘a family run conglomerate’, ‘a premier service’ in New Jersey focused on the provision of energy. This description might aptly apply (but does not) to the Leeds based brothers, Dino and Raffaello Tomasso who, with their immediate family have been operating from Bardon Hall, Leeds, since 1993 as dealers in sculpture, old master paintings, fine decorative arts and antiquities.

Bardon Hall, Weetwood Lane, is remarkable, a sort of castle of Otranto, on the outskirts of Leeds. It is stuffed with marbles (some pretty big), bronzes large and small, Italian drawings, paintings, even some Renaissance medals and plaquettes. This splendid clutter is painstakingly researched, supported by an enviably good library with dedicated staff to run it. For some years now the energetic Tomasso Art have also been based in London with chic premises at 67 Jermyn Street, so you do not have to make a pilgrimage to Bardon Hall, although you would be missing some magic.

I have known and admired the Tomasso brothers for years, but I confess I dread it when I appear at some obscure saleroom in Britain, Europe or America, on the trail of a masterpiece, to find the Tomassos there already sniffing at the said works of art and ready to do battle.

Of course, this can be most troublesome, but they are such an energetic and enlightened conglomerate that maybe one should forgive them. It does me good to see these talented Italo-Yorkshire men going about their business.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 November | 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in London (highlights only): Thursday 2, Friday 3 & Monday 6 November
• Viewing in Newbury (full sale): Saturday 11 - Monday 13 November
• Remote Viewing Service | Available form Saturday 11 November