Sotheby’s London, 24 May 2017 – Over two days of sales at Sotheby’s in London, an exquisite selection of over 500 objects, judiciously collected by the late Lord Ballyedmond, attracted competition from collectors from every continent, pushing the final sale total to £4,353,508 (estimate: £2-3.1 million). With a strong sell-through rate of 94.3%, almost 80% of the lots sold achieved prices above their high-estimates.

The sale was led by an impressive silver wine cistern, weighing over 70kg and able to accommodate over 70 bottles of champagne. This exceptional reproduction of an original by Paul de Lamerie (1719) achieved £112,500. Amongst the many objects which sold above their high estimates was an unusual 18th-century large George II Palladian ‘Baby House’. This fascinating object piqued the curiosity of collectors, selling for £37,500 (estimate: £6,000-9,000).

The majority of lots on offer were drawn from a magnificent townhouse on London’s Belgrave Square, described as the “Downton Abbey of our times”. Inspired by the Regency and the neoclassical designs of British architect Robert Adam and entranced by the salons of 18th-century London, Lord Ballyedmond transformed a once dormant property on one of London’s most prestigious squares into a modern evocation of a great Georgian town house, specifically designed to entertain on an ambassadorial scale.

The Ballyedmond Collection continues with an online sale of Gentleman’s Accessories comprising cufflinks, tie-pins and watches by great names including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Tiffany & Co. With estimates ranging from £150-£6,000, bidding remains open until 5 June.