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WORKS OF ART FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE LORD FORTE (LOTS 1 - 205)
The Forte family name is synonymous with the world famous hotel brand established by the entrepreneurial magnate Charles Forte (1908-2007), who created a worldwide empire of restaurants and hotels from virtually nothing. Born in Italy, at the age of four he moved to Scotland with his family where they set up local cafés and ice-cream shops. As an adult Charles Forte worked with his family, moving to Brighton at the age of 22 to manage the 'Venetian Lounge' for his cousin. In 1935, at the age of 26, he opened his first milk bar on Regent Street, London, from where he went on to build an impressive portfolio and a company which became FTSE 100 listed. Charles Forte was awarded a knighthood in 1970 and was subsequently raised to the peerage, as a life peer, in 1982 as Baron Forte of Ripley in Surrey. The Forte legacy of excellence and luxury now lives on in the form of the Rocco Forte Hotels, a collection of five-star hotels.
Lord and Lady Forte were keen collectors with a discerning eye for both the important and the decorative filling their Belgravia mansion with an array of beautiful objects. Lord Forte's skill as a collector was borne out by the success of the sale of his collection of paintings by L.S. Lowry held at Christie's last November (the most important collection of works by the artist ever to come to auction). We are pleased to offer in this sale, on behalf of Lord and Lady Forte's descendants, objects from their Belgravia home. This interesting group illustrates the breadth of this fascinating couple's interests through their collections; from Russian Imperial porcelain (lots 100-103), or eighteenth-century Venetian views, by the Master of the Langmatt Foundation views (lots 50-52) to Lord Forte's desk chair (lot 152) or Lady Forte's collection of Neapolitan crèche figures (lots 131-138). This sale, with the inclusion of items such as gifts from King Umberto II of Italy (1904-1983) (lots 13-16) gives a rare glimpse into the private world of one of Britain's most illustrious businessmen.
A PAIR OF ITALIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED GILTWOOD GIRANDOLES
19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY VENETO
Details
A PAIR OF ITALIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED GILTWOOD GIRANDOLES
19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY VENETO
Each with a pierced stylized shell-carved cresting and putto's mask above an oval plate with segmental border, the mask to the base of each originally issuing a candle sconce, each inscribed in ink to the reverse 'de la sala/...', minor variations in size
One: 31 in. (79 cm.) high; 20¼ in. (51 cm.) wide
The other: 32¾ in. (83 cm.) high; 19¾ in. (50 cm.) wide (2)
19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY VENETO
Each with a pierced stylized shell-carved cresting and putto's mask above an oval plate with segmental border, the mask to the base of each originally issuing a candle sconce, each inscribed in ink to the reverse 'de la sala/...', minor variations in size
One: 31 in. (79 cm.) high; 20¼ in. (51 cm.) wide
The other: 32¾ in. (83 cm.) high; 19¾ in. (50 cm.) wide (2)
Brought to you by
Arne Everwijn
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