The Peter Hone Collection at Christie's

I wasn't going to do anything today.

I was so busy lately fighting off the ends of jet lag but also a blasted cold but I couldn't handle wasting another day at home not even able to finish a proper episode of Black Mirror on Netflix.

Builders on a health and safety break - 

it's such a London sidewalk vignette.

I decided I would go to Christie's in South Kensington and see the various previews that were on display at the moment.

After nearly a month in Korea, I missed my auction previews.

The windows were dressed up more than usual and trying to evoke someone whipping up a lemon pasta in a rustic continental European kitchen of loose cabinetry.

I am itching for a gigantic yet beautiful paperweight such as this Italian ebonised one.

There was lots of good items for a certain ilk of house or mood.

I was surprised at the estimate of these 

mirrored frames of botanical prints and 

they weren't much more expensive than those they sell at Oka.

But then many don't have the patience to save up a little and then wait around for the right prints to come up which is a shame.

I adored this table of intricate marquetry.

These japanned side tables piqued my fancy as well.

My Pinterest compatriots know what I am like about a folding screen.

This was no exception.

Exquisite.

I adored this mirror and I hope it goes to a good home.

This mirror was odd as it had so many portraits competing for one's attention.

Not a selfie mirror.

I quite enjoyed walking around the tapestries warming me up visually from the impending winter.

In my head of shopping lists apart from ginger and eggs, I always have a Dutch ebonies frame to buy.

Alas, this was over my budget for one but it was so lovely I would hang it up without it needing to frame a thing. 

At the end of the hall housed the Peter Hone Collection.

Please click on the link for the article about it.

For those who might seem it all looks familiar, the items are from one of the most famous flats in London.

Peter Hone has decided that he is selling up all the items in this flat and he is going to start afresh.

What it doesn't say in the article but I heard while I was there is that this flat is going to be the Brexit flat.

The room housing all his items truly is a cliched feast for the eyes.

Everywhere you land your eyes, 

you had to stop and investigate further.

As I did with this frame based on a Gibbons work.

I was busy taking photos when a gentleman with a terrier, 

( there were quite a few gentlemen with dogs this morning at Christie's ),

walked up to me and appreciated the workmanship with me.

He said there was two of them and he bought one in the auction in the 80's.

Like an absolute idiot I asked,

Oh so where is yours now?

He replied, I am selling it.

Me - Oh...

*face palm*

I was so tired and groggy from all the drugs I had been taking besides being overwhelmed by all the objects, 

I just didn't compute this might be Peter Hone himself.

Cutlery Peter Hone said he used regularly and was owned by the first Duke of Cambridge

His flat I could recognise in any form of visual but for me the person wasn't as recognisable as the flat.

I apologised and said I did know who he is through his flat.

He said - Oh it was in a magazine last month - 

to which a passerby chimed - 

When isn't it in a magazine?

Peter smiled.

Phew.

He said that Brexit Britain was a new start and he wanted to mark that fresh beginning with redecorating his flat.

He showed me a few other times and then he dimmed the lights in the room to the way he wanted.

He didn't like the bright lights and I agreed that the items came more alive in the subtle lighting.

I wouldn't have dared asked to take his picture so I was so pleased when he offered to pose for a picture of himself and his canine companion Basel.

Peter Hone and Basel

So I didn't pap him!

I showed him the pictures and he approved and said I could put it on instagram as well.

I am not sure if you can tell the difference in the pictures below from the ones above.

The auction is tomorrow so please do go and visit the showroom if you can or at least browse the online auction catalogue.

But as I walked back home, 

I passed the opening of the ice rink.

It was a chance to see it empty but the queues to get in were formidable!

That queue went back a few more hundred meters.

A quick walk through the park in the brisk air is good for a cold and spirit.

Days like today did remind me that I don't live in London for the weather.

Don't forget to have a browse in the catalogue here.