Dreweatts 1759 | Lifetimes in Design: The Collections of Christopher Smallwood & Niall Hobhouse

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Lifetimes in Design: The Collections of Christopher Smallwood & Niall Hobhouse

Dreweatts

Donnington Priory

Newbury, Berkshire

RG14 2JE

United Kingdom

This is a live online auction with auctioneer. For details on registration, bidding, viewing & condition reports, click “Important information” link.

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Sale Announcement | Find out more

The Collection of Christopher Smallwood | Find out more

The Collection of Niall Hobhouse | Find out more

Viewing in London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
27 Apr 2026 10:00-16:00 BST
28 Apr 2026 10:00-16:00 BST
29 Apr 2026 10:00-19:00 BST

Viewing in Newbury (full sale): see below

May 13, 2026 10:30 AM BST

May 08, 2026 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM BST

May 09, 2026 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM BST

May 10, 2026 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM BST

May 11, 2026 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM BST

Auction currency	GBP
Buyer's premium	27 % (exc. Sales tax)
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Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

A WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY HATSTAND CIRCA 1830, IN THE MANNER OF GILLOWS

461

Quantity

950 GBP

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950 GBP

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500 - 1,000 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A PAIR OF GEORGE IV OAK GOTHIC HALL CHAIRS, CIRCA 1820

482

Quantity

2,200 GBP

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2,200 GBP

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1,000 - 1,500 GBP

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A PAIR OF AESTHETIC MOVEMENT CAST IRON FIRE DOGS, CIRCA 1890

483

Quantity

420 GBP

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420 GBP

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400 - 600 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A LATE VICTORIAN COPPER AND BRASS COAL BUCKET, LATE 19TH CENTURY

484

Quantity

220 GBP

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220 GBP

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200 - 400 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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THOMAS JECKYLL, A SMALL CAST IRON FIRE SURROUND FOR BARNARD, BISHOP & BARNARDS, LATE 19TH CENTURY

486

Quantity

600 GBP

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600 GBP

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800 - 1,200 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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AN ARTS & CRAFTS WROUGHT IRON ADJUSTABLE STANDARD OR READING LIGHT, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

487

Quantity

1,600 GBP

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1,600 GBP

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200 - 400 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

A GEORGE II MAHOGANY BOOKCASE, CIRCA 1750

493

Quantity

3,800 GBP

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3,800 GBP

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4,000 - 6,000 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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ATTRIBUTED TO COALBROOKDALE, A CAST IRON BENCH IN THE FERN AND BLACKBERRY PATTERN

566

Quantity

320 GBP

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320 GBP

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300 - 500 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A CARVED STONE RECUMBENT ELEPHANT, 20TH CENTURY

567

Quantity

1,000 GBP

Opening bid

1,000 GBP

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200 - 400 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

578

Quantity

4,500 GBP

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4,500 GBP

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800 - 1,200 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

A GROUP OF FOUR MAHOGANY STAIRCASE COLUMNS, 18TH CENTURY

579

Quantity

900 GBP

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900 GBP

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200 - 400 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A GEORGE II PARCEL GILT MAHOGANY DOUBLE SIDED PANELLED DOOR, MID 18TH CENTURY

580

Quantity

3,000 GBP

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3,000 GBP

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2,000 - 4,000 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A DOUBLE SIDED WOOD PANEL MOUNTED WITH GESSO SAMPLES, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

637

Quantity

300 GBP

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300 GBP

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300 - 500 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A CIRCULAR CENTRE TABLE ATTRIBUTED TO ICO PARISI (ITALIAN, 1916-1996), MID-20TH CENTURY

651

Quantity

1,100 GBP

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1,100 GBP

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2,000 - 3,000 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

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A GROUP OF SEVEN CARVED STONE CORBELS AND BOSSES, BY TRADITION FROM BRUTON ABBEY

661

Quantity

6,000 GBP

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6,000 GBP

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3,000 - 6,000 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

Y TWO IVORY INLAID EBONY PANELS FROM A TABLE CABINET OR STUDIOLO, ATTRIBUTED TO GIORGIO TEDESCO

686

Quantity

8,000 GBP

Opening bid

8,000 GBP

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600 - 1,000 GBP

Y TWO IVORY INLAID EBONY PANELS FROM A TABLE CABINET OR STUDIOLO ATTRIBUTED TO GIORGIO TEDESCO AND GIULIO LUPI FOR THE DUKE OF URBINO, CIRCA 1599 The decoration in the form of entwined oak branches, leaves and acorns, repurposed and rebacked The large side panel- 52.5cm x 33.3cm The smaller single rectangular panel- 10.2cm x 44cm Together with two later 19th century panels similarly decorated 61cm x11.5cm and 57.5cm x 11.8cmProvenance: The first two panels from a suite originally commissioned by the Duke of Urbino, Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1549-1631) at Casteldurante, likely dispersed after 1631 though possibly remaining with his granddaughter Vittoria della Rovere (1622-1694) in Florence. The panels, veneered in Mozambique ebony and inlaid with engraved ivory in the form of entwined oak branches - an emblem of the Rovere family, are likely fragments from a small cabinet, or `studioletti' that was part of a suite of furniture made in the 1590s for Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1549 - 1631), Duke of Urbino, possibly to celebrate the marriage in 1599 between the Duke and his cousin Livia della Rovere. The suite comprised a studiolo (writing-cabinet with a fall-front), three further cabinets of different form and decreasing size, and a table, some panels additionally displaying the della Rovere family arms, and can be attributed to the cabinet-maker Maestro Giorgio Tedesco and ivory carver Giulio Lupi. Both are little-known but their names recur together and separately in the Duke's notes of expenditure and in della Rovere inventories between 1596 and 1599, including in reference to ebony cabinets and decoration of ivory or foliage. The upper part of the studiolo is in the collection of the Galleria Nazionale della Marche, Urbino, while the lower part, a credenza with doors, reappeared in 1951 (as the upper section of a cabinet, the base of which was of later date though inlaid in a similar manner) and is in a private collection. The two parts were reunited briefly in 2019 when the credenza was loaned to the Galleria. The companion table was rediscovered in 2010 when it was offered for sale at Sotheby's, London, allowing for comprehensive study and attribution to Tedsco and Lupi. Meanwhile the other three cabinets were dismantled, at least two by 1667,and the panels used in the construction of new pieces of furniture, one a prie-dieu, now acquired by the Galleria Nazionale della Marche, which incorporates panels from the second and third-sized cabinets, and another storage case or possibly a stand for a `silver fountain' - probably a holy water stoop. The large panel offered here has been cut through and reduced in size while the long `single-panel' has been extended - the central `pontil' mark suggests this panel originally formed a drawer front. The two `double-panels' included here are likely elements from the later-constructed base of the credenza, or perhaps from some other creation made to incorporate panels from the original suite. All have been re-backed (possibly using poplar). The history of the suite was described in detail by Mario Tavella `A set of ebony and ivory inlaid furniture for the Duke of Urbino', The Burlington Magazine, 164, June 2022, pp. 546 - 557. Please note, Dreweatts have applied for a de minimis exemption certificate for the ivory for the 16th century panels (Ref: GGA8Z95T) Please note, Dreweatts have applied for a de minimis exemption certificate for the ivory for the 19th century panels (Ref:A5498PKN) Condition Report: Condition Report Disclaimer

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

A CARVED SANDSTONE ARCHITECTURAL ACANTHUS MOTIF, PROBABLY 18TH CENTURY

690

Quantity

0 GBP

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320 GBP

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400 - 800 GBP

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Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire