Treasure trove of antique collector Eve Clarke goes under the hammer at Cheffins
The collection of the late Evelyn Clarke, passionate collector and veteran antique dealer – including artefacts, furniture, textiles and objets de vertu – go under the hammer at a Cheffins auction on Thursday (25 July).
Known as Eve, she occupied her shop in the high street in Fulbourn for almost six decades. She was a prominent local figure and known to many dealers and collectors alike. Her larger-than-life character is reflected in her personal collection of antiques and interior decoration, 340 items of which are in the sale.
Eve’s well-travelled lifestyle was manifested in a private collection that was equally rich in diversity and visual splendour. She had a great eye for decoration – lots of colour, decorating techniques and the best silk fabrics were used throughout her home.
The sale includes a nucleus of early 17th and 18th century oak furniture and textiles, numerous items originating from 18th century Europe, many from places of worship such as altar sticks and religious carvings. These religious artworks were displayed in her dedicated ‘Chapel room’. Eve loved to buy items with an interesting provenance – the silver-gilt coronet from the Countess of Craven was proudly displayed in the ‘gold room’.
In contrast, another room was more 19th century in style with opulent boulle work furniture, gilt salon furniture, silk fabrics, a collection of Palais Royal sewing boxes and objets de vertu.
Also in the sale is beautifully detailed 20th century furniture, such as a green painted and gilt lacquer Chinoiserie bedroom suite, with scenes of Chinese figures, pagodas and wildlife.
Dolls and automata were another passion of Eve’s, from a wish to have them as a child but being unable due to war and their unavailability. Automata on sale include a fabulous knitting rabbit and a beer-drinking polar bear, both by the famous Roullet Decamps. A 19th century doll’s house is in the sale, while Eve’s significant collection of dolls will be sold in a separate auction in the autumn.
Motoring was another pastime – Eve’s late husband, Denny, had served as a Lancaster bomber pilot and later set up a garage and taxi businesses, moving on to deal in classic cars. The couple competed in Monte Carlo rallies in the 1950s and ’60s. Cheffins will be offering bumper plates from some rallies, together with toy cars including a 1930s Meccano No 2 clockwork Constructor Car. For those looking for the real thing, a Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible and an Overfinch Range Rover, which was Eve’s personal transport for the last few years of her very full life, will also be on sale.
Christopher Halls, director at Cheffins, said: “Cheffins is privileged to offer the eclectic and visually arresting contents of Eve’s home.
“Eve had been a long-standing client of Cheffins and a personal friend of mine for over 30 years and her experience as an inveterate collector and dealer is evidenced in her sophisticated layering of objects for decoration. Eve was a larger-than-life character, and this rich and disparate collection is a manifestation of a life well lived.”
The sale on Thursday (25 July), in Cheffins’ showroom and online, starts at 10am. For further information, call 01223 213343 or email fine.art@cheffins.co.uk.
