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The Contents of Kerfield House

11 September 2025 | starting at 10:00 BST

Bonhams is delighted to present The Contents of Kerfield House at 101 New Bond Street this September. The Georgian-styled house on the outskirts of the Cheshire market town of Knutsford was originally constructed in 1860, before being transformed under Percy Scott Worthington in 1912.

It has been the home of John and Elaine Johnson since 1987 and it is here, explains daughter and antique dealer Holly Johnson, that their taste for collecting grew in scale. Each room was decorated with Elaine's own individual style to have a distinct identity, using wallpapers by the likes of De Gournay and fabrics and trims from the Paris fabric houses.

Their love for travel, combined with Holly's growing businesses as a dealer, saw key pieces of the collection sourced from France, Holland and Italy. The grand piano by Pleyel Lyon and Cie was removed from a chateau near Montauben with a crane as it was too large for any of the doors, with the bedroom furniture attributed to Zwiener came from Paris and Nice.

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Lot gallery

16 lots available

Thomas Stringer(Knutsford 1722-1790)Beauty, a dapple grey

T Berti, 19th Centuryafter DomenichinoThe Cumean Sibyl

T Berti, 19th Centuryafter DomenichinoThe Samian Sibyl

Émile Betsellère(French, 1847-1880)French Revolutionaries disputing with a leader of the Revolution

A large Italian carved marble bust of PericlesAfter the Antique, probably late 18th/early 19th century

Two similar Derbyshire blue john fluorspar ovoid door stops Early 20th century

A large French mid-19th century gilt-bronze eight light chandelierIn the Louis XV style

A French late 19th century kingwood, marquetry and gilt bronze mounted double bedMade by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (1848-1895), in the Louis XV style

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): an early printed lacquer and tole "Architettura" trumeauCollaborating with Gio Ponti, Italy, circa 1959

An important and exhibition quality 19th century satinwood, tulipwood banded, purplewood, sycamore, marquetry, gilt bronze mounted and painted side cabinetBy Wright and Mansfield in the Adam style, circa 1870

A fine early 20th century shagreen, ivory strung and carved silvered cabinet on standCirca 1925, in the William and Mary style, possibly attributable to Warring & Gillows and probably retailed by Asprey

A 19th century burr walnut, sycamore, marquetry and gilt metal mounted centre tableAttributed to Holland & Sons, circa 1860

A French late 19th century carved giltwood centre tableAfter the Louis XIV model attributed to Jules Degoullons which was supplied to the Chateau de Bercy in 1713

A fine French early 20th century kingwood, tulipwood, rosewood, marquetry and ormolu mounted baby grand pianoCirca 1912, the movement made by Pleyel, Paris, the case by A. Gaurier. Serial number 45596, invoice number 158785

Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988): a four panel 'Libreria' screenItalian, circa 1955

A black and gilt Japanned bureau cabinetParts 18th century and later

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