Christie's to auction antiques from Dunsborough Park

KOLKATA: Christie's is coming up with a summer auction of magnificent outdoor statuary, garden ornaments and gardening antiques from Dunsborough Park: Garden Statuary from The Collection of Baron and Baroness Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh to be held on 19 and 20 June 2013.

Originally built in 1630, it was not until the 18th century that Dunsborough House, as it was then known, first had gardens formally laid out. In 1991, the current owners, a Dutch noble family, embarked upon restoring the six acres of walled gardens with the help and advice of garden designers Penelope Hobhouse and Rupert Golby.

During their ongoing twenty-year project, the couple has collated an extensive collection, adorning the gardens with all manner of objects including sculptures and fountains, urns and pedestals, seats and sundials, and even antique gardening tools including watering cans and sprinklers.

The auction will feature over 500 lots of all sizes, great and small, and is expected to realise in excess of £2 million. Catering for collectors with grand parklands, small courtyards or modest gardens, estimates range from £200 to £150,000, with pieces made from all manner of materials to suit all tastes and styles.

Baron and Baroness Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh commented in an email statement: "We have been passionate about building this collection and restoring the garden here at Dunsborough. We remain devoted to our work. However, it is time to prune in order to blossom more vigorously in the future."