Bonhams is delighted to be offering one of the largest collections of Gillows and Holland and Sons furniture to have emerged on the market. The Peter Bracewell Collection will go under the hammer in Bonhams Fine English Furniture and Works of Art sale to be held on 16 July 2008 at 101 New Bond Street, London. The highlight of the collection is an important pair of Victorian Commodes estimated at £30,000-50,000.

Peter Bracewell, who was described as very much a no-nonsense North countryman, lived at Mirk Howe in the stunning South Lakeland countryside outside Kendal. He inherited a passion for collecting antiques from his parents and steadily built up one of the largest and finest collection of Gillows and Holland and Sons furniture.

Eric Knowles, Director of Bonhams, who was a close personal friend of Peter Bracewell's, says: "Over the 15 years since our first meeting I made numerous visits to Mirk Howe and on each occasion Peter would put the kettle on before proudly introducing me to his most recent acquisition. This invariably would be a carefully chosen piece of Gillows furniture of exhibition quality."

The top lot in the collection is an important pair of Victorian kingwood crossbanded and parquetry serpentine Commodes by Gillows estimated at £30,000-50,000. The cabinets, which are in the Louis XIV style, were matched up by Peter Bracewell, one being purchased in England and the other in the USA. The Regency style was not one commonly used by the firm, although they produced much furniture in an adapted Louis XVI style in line with many of the leading cabinetmakers of the day.

Other important pieces in the Peter Bracewell Collection:

• Lot 130 - A pair of early Victorian carved goncalo alves Card Tables, by Gillows of Lancaster, estimated at £8,000-12,000
• Lot 135 - A matched pair of mid Victorian figured walnut, tulipwood, amboyna banded and sycamore maquetry Centre Tables in Louis XVI style, estimated at £20,000-30,000
• Lot 137 - A mid Victorian burr walnut, amboyna and purplewood banded, tulipwood, rosewood and sycamore marquetry Side Cabinet, by Gillow & Co, estimated at £6,000-8,000
• Lot 141 - A fine mid Victorian satinwood, sycamore, harewood, tulipwood, ivory and purplewood marquetry Davenport, by Holland and Sons, estimated at £12,000-18,000
• Lot 142 - A fine mid Victorian amboyna, sycamore, harewood and purplewood marguetry Bureau Plat, in the manner of Hollands, estimated at £12,000-18,000

Peter Bracewell's enthusiasm for collecting extended to other areas and Bonhams is selling his important collection of Moorcroft Pottery on 24 September 2008 at 101 New Bond Street, London.

The sale also features a further 26 pieces by Gillows and Holland and Son from other properties including a Regency carved mahogany Breakfront Library Bookcase attributed to Gillow, estimated at £20,000-30,000; a William IV carved mahogany specimen marble Centre Table, attributed to Gillow, estimated at £12,000-18,000 and a George IV plum pudding mahogany Pedestal Library Cabinet by Gillow of Lancaster in the Gothic taste, estimated at £4,500-6,500.

Further information and images Charlotte Wood 44 (0) 207 4688331 or email press@bonhams.com

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America and in August 2003, Goodmans, a leading Australian fine art and antiques auctioneer with salerooms in Sydney, joined the Bonhams Group of Companies. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com. (1st January 2008)