London – Bonhams will offer The Contents of Kerfield House on 11 September at New Bond Street, London. Kerfield House is a Georgian-styled house on the outskirts of the Cheshire market town of Knutsford. It 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, notes their daughter the interior decorator and antique dealer Holly Johnson, that their taste for collecting grew in scale. The sale will offer a selection of pieces from their collection, from 18th Century furniture, to Piero Fornasetti designs.

The sale will be on view from 18 August – 11 September at Bonhams New Bond Street, London, alongside the exhibition for Downton Abbey: The Auction.

The Johnson's love for travel, combined with Holly's growing businesses as a dealer and decorator, saw key pieces of the collection sourced from France, Holland and Italy. 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.

Kerfield House was previously home of Sebastian Ferranti, who regularly hosted the late Queen Elizabeth II, the late Prince Phillip (who was his great friend), Earl Mountbatten, the then Prince Charles and other dignitaries and celebrities.

Charlie Thomas, UK Group Director for House Sales and Private & Iconic Collections, Furniture, Works of Art and Carpets at Bonhams, commented: "Alongside their daughter Holly, John and Elaine Johnson built an impressive collection based on a shared passion and knowledge of antiques and design. This sale features some truly wonderful pieces from Kerfield House that are sure to excite fellow collectors."

Holly Johnson, writing about her parents' collection commented: "My parents, John and Elaine, have always had a keen interest in antiques and interiors. As a headstrong teenager, I was often dragged down to London for the annual Olympia and Grosvenor House fairs [...] This world of colourful characters, stylish furniture and intricate works of art eventually cast its enduring spell over me [...]. Meanwhile, it was with John and Elaine's purchase of Kerfield House in 1987 that their collecting grew in scale [...]

"By then, I was dealing and travelling across Europe myself, buying around France, Holland and Italy. I travelled weekly to Paris. Items would be singled out for my parents' growing collection at Kerfield House. The grand piano by Pleyel Lyon and Cie was craned out from a chateau near Montauban in France as we couldn't get it through any of the doors. The bedroom furniture attributed to Zwerner came from contacts in Paris and Nice. Items such as the Japanese Lantern, set with painted glass, was bought from a Private Client in Holland."

Writing of the collection for the catalogue, antiques expert Christopher Payne, said: "The term 'collector' is often used inappropriately and wrongly denotes a house filled with furniture for the simple and understandable purpose of making a house comfortable, eye-catching and even luxurious. It is clear that John and Elaine have spent a lot of time and energy passionately sourcing a mixture of pieces demonstrating real connoisseurship, combined with a deep interest and knowledge.

Highlights of the sale include:

• Piero Fornasetti (Italian, 1913-1988), An early printed lacquer and tole "Architettura" trumeau. Collaborating with Gio Ponti, Italy, circa 1959. Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000.

• A fine French early 20th century kingwood, tulipwood, rosewood, marquetry and ormolu mounted baby grand piano. Circa 1912, the movement made by Pleyel, Paris, the case by A. Gaurier. Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000.

• An important and exhibition quality 19th century satinwood, tulipwood banded, purplewood, sycamore, marquetry, gilt bronze mounted and painted side cabinet. By Wright and Mansfield in the Adam style, circa 1870. Estimate: £15,000 - £25,000.

• Émile Betsellère (French, 1847-1880), French Revolutionaries disputing with a leader of the Revolution. Estimate: £6,000 - £10,000.

• A large Italian carved marble bust of Pericles. After the Antique, probably late 18th/early 19th century. Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000.