Why should an auction house be partnering with an estate agency? Well, moving house is one of the times that all one’s possessions come up for review. Another is the sad time of losing a loved one and starting the often-difficult job of clearing a house for sale.
Whether it’s for Probate, downsizing, raising a few extra funds - or just the feeling that it’s time someone else loved a particular item – the Canterbury Auction Galleries can be a friend indeed.
There are many ways to sell unwanted items of course but really nothing comes close to a long-established, reputable and trusted auction house like ours.
Every item will be vetted by our team of specialists so you can be sure that nothing precious slips through the net. And we reach a vast audience for your items: each of our six auctions a year, spanning 2-3 days, reaches a huge pool of potential buyers and interested collectors from across the world. Around 6,000 people worldwide register for our sales.
The Canterbury Auction Galleries has been long established, achieving prices and attracting quality to rival the most famous of London auction houses – we often make the news with the items we sell and the prices we achieve.
Our friendly team of specialists has an excellent track record in valuing and selling a full range of antiques and collectibles, from fine arts and furniture to dazzling jewellery and 20th Century design, and from militaria to Chinese art. Even modern-day collectibles, that are rising in value rapidly and appeal to the next generation - most recently we sold a collection of Barbie dolls and Pokemon cards and the results were pleasantly surprising.
So if you’re considering downsizing, why not book to come along to a valuation session in our beautiful, historic building in Canterbury? Recognized by the Law Society, we also offer valuations at your home - our probate visits are well-known to be sensitive and professional at what is usually a difficult time. We are proud of our international reputation and expertise and our good name is everything to us - we’ll take excellent care of you and your treasured possessions.
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The Polly Coburn collection
An unusual collection of antiques, contemporary furniture, art, porcelain, glass, silver and gold items from the home of late artist and goldsmith Polly Coburn (nee Gasston) comes up for auction on Monday 17 February, at The Canterbury Auction Galleries. Polly was not only a goldsmith, interior designer, and gardener, but a lifelong collector of beautiful and unusual things.
This collection of around 300 items includes many one-off commissions from silversmiths and furniture designers who are now among Britain’s leading names in their fields. Many were hand-picked for her homes, Milton Manor in Canterbury, Logan in Scotland and most recently Ramsgate’s famous Gothic-style Harbour House.
Treasures include a hand-made 22-carat gold “mug” by George Lukes that she used as a wine glass, estimated at £5-6,000, original pieces crafted by furniture designer Michael Westgate, exquisitely hand-painted porcelain by Stefan Nowacki for Lynton, silver life-size pheasants by Tim Lukes (£4-5,000), a collection of contemporary caddy spoons by various members of the Goldsmiths Company and many hand- made glass perfume bottles, and beautiful rugs.
Her impeccable eye for both quality and design was evident in how she combined antique with contemporary, weaving eclectic interest and colour throughout her homes.
Viewing days will be held on 11th / 12th / 13th February from 12 noon at The Canterbury Auction Galleries.
If you would like to bid or attend a viewing day please register first at www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com, where you can view the online catalogue. The sale will commence on Monday February 17, at 10am, online only. Printed catalogues are available at £15 including postage - please request from The Canterbury Auction Galleries via email: general@tcag.co.uk.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Both the house and the treasures therein shine a light on an extraordinary life, lived embracing particularly female virtues: artistic ability, practical skills, a love of gardening and care for others.
Polly and her sister Philippa Dunn were born in Kenya, two of four children of parents who Philippa happily dubs “eccentric”. While Philippa moved to Canada for 25 years, Polly came to England to follow her passion to train as a goldsmith, inspired by her silversmith grandfather, Alfred Gasston. She would stay in the UK until her untimely death in 2021.
A brief early marriage ended in divorce, then she met and married Mike Coburn, a self-made man and huge character who raced motorbikes, flew planes and ended up creating commercial property empire The Milton Group.
Friends said he “felt life was a game that should be played to the full” and in Polly he found a soulmate.
For most of their time together they lived between Milton Manor, Thanington, near Canterbury, and Logan Estate in Scotland.. Polly ran a successful soft furnishing company in Canterbury and she transformed the interiors of both Milton and Logan. She planted the manor’s 22 acres with trees and enviable gardens, and maintained and nurtured the long established Logan gardens. Mike died in 2001 at only 65.
In 2004 Philippa moved to England with her husband and lived in Canterbury, and in 2012 Polly bought Harbour House with the idea that the family would all live together to old age. They moved into Harbour House in 2014 with their elderly mother who lived to 100.
Philippa recalls that transforming the house was ‘great fun’ and it was practical too; any metal like copper piping, nails etc were collected in a tin for ‘the clock fund’. The 1898 huge long-clock was bought and restored and was the heart of the house. It is now in the sale, estimated at £1200+.
Though Polly had no children of her own she was a much-loved aunt to nine nieces and nephews, inspiring them with her wide intellectual horizons, crackling sense of humour and overwhelming kindness. In 2007 Polly decided to go back to the bench and be a goldsmith again, and Philippa ran the company they started together, Polly Gasston Goldsmith. After Polly died, Philippa kept Polly’s legacy alive by continuing with the company, now called Polly Gasston Jewellery. Polly had a wealth of knowledge spanning history, ancient civilisations, literature and music as well as art. Her impeccable taste and love for the interesting and unusual will show throughout this auction, which also includes some of her own paintings.
“She was quite eccentric, ridiculously kind, extremely clever and very funny,” says Philippa. “Hers was a life very well lived.”
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