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THE DESMOND HEYWARD COLLECTION, FROM HASELEY COURT, OXFORDSHIRECollecting was both a joy and a passion for Desmond Heyward with works of art being acquired from London dealers as well as salerooms in Britain and the United States. The latest catalogues were something to be discussed and enjoyed as much as visits to leading art dealers and antique fairs. The collection gives a clear sense that, as with the magnificent wines from the cellar at Haseley sold at Christie’s last December, the process of discovery and acquisition was something to be savoured. Interesting provenance also added to the appeal of objects, such as the superb pair of George II rococo girandoles from the collection of the Earls Spencer at Althorp, purchased at Christie’s in 2010 (lot 127) or the pair of George II Mahogany chairs commissioned from Vile & Cobb circa 1753 for The Vyne, Hampshire (lot 143). The placing of objects was very carefully considered with some furniture so well chosen one could be forgiven for presuming that it was original to the house, one example being the George I mirror from the Simon Sainsbury collection which sat neatly above the fire in the dining room nestling between original pilasters of about the same date (lot 134), another being the superb pair of George III giltwood husk-festooned console tables whose design has been attributed to John Vardy from the collection of R. Olaf Hambro, Linton Park, Kent, which perfectly fitted the window piers in the neoclassical double height drawing room (lot 124). The interiors were completed by an equally impressive collection of paintings led by Philippe Mercier’s The Music Party (lot 117) which hung centre-stage in the drawing room, there is also a notable focus on 18th century British portraiture with works by artists including Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney and Allan Ramsay (lots 135, 116 & 120).The quintessential English country house, Haseley Court sits perfectly in its landscape at the end of a tree-lined avenue surrounded by exquisite gardens. The principal front dates from the early 18th Century but this belies the earlier origins of the house as evidenced by the mullioned medieval wing projecting behind. As with so many houses, Haseley suffered greatly during the upheaval of The Second World War but was rescued by Nancy Lancaster, who set about restoring the house and grounds from 1954 (see lots 151 & 152). Famed for ‘making the English country house comfortable’ Mrs Lancaster (formerly Nancy Tree) purchased the eponymous London decorating firm Colefax & Fowler from Sibyl, Lady Colefax in 1944. Nancy Lancaster brought her considerable skill to bear at Haseley, notably having her business partner, the great John Fowler, exercise his renowned talents on the scheme conceived for the solar on the first floor of the medieval wing, which, as the largest room in the house, was naturally adopted as her bedroom. Nancy Lancaster would remain at Haseley for the rest of her life, retaining the converted medieval stables as her home from the early 1970s when the main house was sold to Milo Devereux, 18th Viscount Hereford (see lots 114 & 349). Having lived nearby, Desmond and Fiona Heyward were longstanding friends of Nancy Lancaster and knew the house well. It had been her wish that the Heywards purchase Haseley when she moved out of the main house so all were delighted when serendipity provided a second chance and the Heywards purchased Haseley as their family home in 1982. Thrilled at having the young family move in, Nancy was a very supportive neighbour and took delight in the sensitive approach the Heywards took with the house and gardens. The feeling was mutual with Nancy Lancaster becoming almost an honorary member of the family as she watched the Heywards make Haseley their own. Created over more than fifty years, the collection assembled was striking not only for the quality and interest of its constituent paintings, objects and furniture but for how perfectly it inhabited the rooms of the Heywards’ Oxfordshire house. Desmond Heyward took great pleasure from assembling the collection in the coming pages and the enviable outlook from his desk - illustrated opposite - looking through the enfilade of rooms, filled with the treasures he loved, was said to be his favourite view. AHS
A NEAR PAIR OF CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE LARGE BOWLS AND COVERS
17TH CENTURY
Details
A NEAR PAIR OF CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE LARGE BOWLS AND COVERS
17TH CENTURY
Each similarly decorated with various flower branches and rockwork
The larger, 8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) high
17TH CENTURY
Each similarly decorated with various flower branches and rockwork
The larger, 8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) high
Brought to you by
Amelia Walker
Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections