Do you have a favorite item from a recent collection?
My favorite item from the Julians Park collection was a pair of Queen Anne gilt-gesso pier glasses. Their survival, condition, and quality makes them extremely rare, and they were almost certainly made for James Douglas, the second Duke of Queensberry, who was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1701.
They are in a remarkable state of preservation, with all but one of the mirror plates being original and exhibiting a beautiful slightly sparkly gray color. The frames were originally silvered rather than oil-gilded, and the original decoration is present to this day beneath two later layers of decoration. They are a truly exciting discovery.
On the other end of the collecting spectrum, handling works of art from contemporary cultural icons is always special—and one in particular comes to mind at the moment. We’re currently lucky to be handling the L’Wren Scott Collection, a stunning array of couture gowns and pieces she crafted for various stars of the stage and screen.
The sequinned oak leaf jacket she made for Mick Jagger is special not only for its association with his memorable Glastonbury 2013 performance, but it is also a masterwork of craftsmanship.