Bonhams is delighted to announce that it will be selling the contents of the Cotswold antiques firm H.W Keil. Set up in 1932, Keils has become a household name within the antiques world and was even given the Royal stamp of approval by the Queen Mother.
Over 800 lots of fine furniture, clocks, paintings, books and textiles will be offered as part of A Cotswold Legacy 1932-2008: The Property of H.W Keil on Saturday 25 October 2008. The sale will take place in the grounds of the premises, which are located in the heart of the picturesque village of Broadway in the Cotswolds. The sale is expected to fetch in the region of £1 million and estimates range from £100 to £70,000.
Antony Bennett, Bonhams Director, says:” I am delighted to be involved in this sale. Henry Keil’s passion was an inspiration to everyone in the business and I feel very privileged to be overseeing the final chapter of this extraordinary firm. This is a unique opportunity for buyers to purchase something from this renowned Cotswold business. We are looking forward to a very successful sale”
The Queen Mother is known to have favoured Keils and bought pieces from the firm ensuring that a small piece of the Cotswolds would later become part of the furniture at Buckingham Palace. A visit by the Queen Mother to Keils in 1934 was reported in the Evesham Journal:
HRH the Duchess of York, accompanied by her aunt, Lady Maud Bowes-Lyon and looking very charming in a pale grey gown walked down from Orchard Farm to visit Mr Keil’s showrooms of old English furniture at Broadway.
Of special interest was the pine-panelled room complete with the original fireplace. Several purchases were made including a fine 18th century serpentine side table which is being sent to 145 Piccadilly.
The town house, 145 Piccadilly, was the Duke and Duchess’ home, which they shared with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret until, following King Edward VIII’s abdication, the family moved into Buckingham Palace.
Henry William Keil, who came from a family of furniture makers, initially worked for Gordon Russell, the distinguished designer. He then set up his own antiques business with his wife Violet in 1932, choosing the picturesque village of Broadway, often referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds”. Located in the beautiful 17th Century building, Tudor House, Keil specialised in early English furniture, particularly walnut and oak from the 16th, 17th and 18th Century. Broadway has one of the highest concentrations of antiques shops outside of London and as one of the first to start selling there H.W Keil quickly gained an international reputation.
Henry and Violet’s two sons, Peter and John set up their own antiques businesses; John on the Brompton Road in London and Peter in Cheltenham. When his father retired Peter also took over the running of Keils in Broadway. A few years ago Peter died in tragic and untimely circumstances and since then John Keil has decided to rationalise the firm. This sale represents the final chapter of this remarkable and historic business.
The pieces in Bonhams sale reflect the continuing exceptional taste of H.W Keil and include a range of traditional 17th and 18th Century English furniture. The sale also features a selection of antique textiles as well as an extensive collection of books and pewter. An eclectic variety of works of art are also offered, including a pair of 19th Century bronze signal cannons on carriages (estimate £4,000-6,000), a pair of cast iron lions (estimate £2,000-3,000), a 17th Century carved figure of Mary, together with the Angel Gabriel (estimate £800-1,200), a Charles II oak cradle, circa 1680 (estimate £500-800) and a model of “The Rowenta” a four-mastered ship (estimate £200-400).
Highlights from the sale include:
Ø A set of eight George III Irish mahogany dining chairs, circa 1750, estimated at £50,000-70,000
Ø A fine George II mahogany and needlework upholstered “Gainsborough” armchair, circa 1740, estimated at £25,000-35,000
Ø An oil on canvas painting by George Derville Rowlandson entitled, Over the fence, estimated at £15,000-20,000
Ø A Charles I oak refectory table, circa 1640, estimated at £5,000-8,000
Ø A late 17th Century walnut longcase clock, Charles Gretton, London, estimated at £7,000-10,000
Ø A rare Charles II oak, yew and ebonised mural lively cupboard, circa 1660, estimated at £6,000-8,000
Ø An oil on canvas portrait of Catherine, First Duchess of Rutland, seated with a lamb before a landscape, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, estimated at £4,000-6,000
Public Viewing:
Tuesday 21 October: 10am-4pm
Wednesday 22 October: 10am-4pm
Thursday 23 October: 10am-8pm
Friday 24 October: 10am-4pm
A Cotswold Legacy 1932-2008: Property of H.W Keil will go on sale on Saturday 25 October 2008 at 10am in the grounds of Tudor House, Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12 7DP.
For more information on the sale please visit the website at www.bonhams.com/keilsale.