Bonhams Sells Sir Terence Conran Collection for £1.18M, Tripling Pre-Sale Estimate
Bonhams' sale of Sir Terence Conran's personal collection from Barton Court achieved £1,179,500, more than three times the pre-sale estimate, and was 100% sold on December 14, 2022, in New Bond Street, London. The top lot was Sir Allen Jones's polychrome painted steel sculpture of a waiter with a diner, which sold for £21,000. Five murals by Allen Jones from Conran's Mezzo restaurant also featured, with the top mural achieving £20,400. Sir Terence Conran's own desk, designed by him and made by Benchmark Furniture, sold for £20,400 against an estimate of £3,000-5,000. A group of miniature Bugatti models sold for a total of £160,267.
The Signal
The sale underscores the enduring market strength for design icons and personal collections tied to figures of Conran's stature. Collectors demonstrated strong appetite for objects that blend design history and provenance, with many lots exceeding estimates by multiples. The results signal that institutional and private buyers continue to value works with direct links to influential tastemakers, particularly in the design and decorative arts sectors, where Conran's legacy as a retailer, restaurateur, and founder of the Design Museum remains highly resonant.
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- Artists: Allen Jones, Jason Brooks, René Vincent, Yrjö Kukkapuro, Pierre Falize
- People: Sir Terence Conran, Harvey Cammell
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: London
- Prices: £1,179,500, £21,000, £20,400, £160,267
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