Fabulous collection is for sale

Dec 1 2008 by David Whetstone, The Journal

TREASURES from the private collection of a distinguished North East artist and academic are to be auctioned this week.

Kenneth Rowntree (1915-97) was a well-known painter and professor of fine art at King’s College, University of Durham, from 1959 until 1980.

Having fallen in love with the North East, he remained in the region for the rest of his life.

In 1988 he and his wife Diana moved to Corbridge, settling into a home which they furnished and decorated with items which must have drawn covetous looks from discerning visitors.

Diana, an architect who also became the first architecture writer of The Guardian newspaper in 1956, died in August at the age of 93.

Now important items from the Rowntree Collection, including furniture and ceramics, are on view at the Newbiggin Road, Westerhope, showrooms of auctioneers Anderson & Garland.

Antiques Roadshow expert Steven Moore, a senior specialist at Anderson & Garland, explained that the sale items were desirable in their own right – but doubly so because they came from the personal collection of the Rowntrees.

“She was an architect and an architecture critic and he was a celebrated artist of his day and this is all stuff which was absolutely personal to them.”

He said the items would appeal to collectors because of their immaculate provenance, meaning the Rowntrees had been personal friends of those who had designed or commissioned them.

Among these friends were Jack and Molly Pritchard, founders of ground- breaking London design firm Isokon.

In 1934, Isokon opened a block of flats in London which was hailed as the very latest in contemporary living.

The latest Anderson & Garland fine art and antiques auction runs from tomorrow until Thursday with the Rowntree ceramics going on sale on Wednesday and the furniture on Thursday. Viewing today until 2pm.

For details, visit www.andersonandgarland.com