Geoffrey Blackwell, O.B.E. (1884-1943) was one of the great collectors of the early 20th Century. His collection was unusal in combining modern British pictures and Georgian furniture, which he furnished in his Berkhamsted house. He was advised by the great furniture connoisseur, R. W. Symonds (1889-1958), and Blackwell's furniture formed the subject of two articles in Apollo in 1936. Among the highlights of his collection was a George II walnut kneehole dressing-table that came from Lord Byron at Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire, latterly in the collection of that other great collector, Percival Griffiths. A group of furniture from Blackwell's collection was sold by a member of the Blackwell family, in these Rooms, 9 July 1992, lots 137-146.
Owen Evan-Thomas was a widely respected dealer and expert in treen and other objects. His publications included Domestic Utensils of Wood: XVIth to XIXth century, London, 1932. His 'Press Cutting' book, relating to his 1939 exhibition was deemed to be of such importance and interest to collectors that it was reproduced in J. Levi, Treen for the Table, Woodbridge, 1998, appendix I, pp. 201-209.