Auction Archive

Our June auction has something for everyone – from modern luxury to fine and rare antique dress. This sale also includes three very special but very different collections.  The first collection we present is 20 lots from the wardrobe of the late Marianne Faithfull. Renowned for her haunting voice, bold spirit, and enduring influence on music and culture, Marianne Faithfull also left an indelible mark on the world of fashion. Emerging in the 1960s as one of the era’s most captivating performers, she became known for her distinctive style — often dressed in dramatic, monochromatic black ensembles that reflected both elegance and edge.

We are also offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire pieces from Zandra Rhodes’ personal archive. The collection comprises 92 lots ranging from her 1969 black felt ‘Circle’ coat, through to designs of the 2000s, including one important dress which was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. These joyously colourful dresses include iconic designs from Dame Zandra Rhodes’ illustrious career. The sale will benefit the Zandra Rhodes Foundation: “I formed the Zandra Rhodes Foundation to carefully catalogue the momentous dresses I have designed over the last 60 years — each one hand-printed and handmade in my London studio. Now, for the first time, I am opening up my archive and offering a rare chance to own pieces from my life's work. With the expert guidance of Kerry Taylor, a curated selection of my most treasured, statement garments will find new homes around the world. Kerry’s exceptional eye has found chiffon kaftans from my very first collection, beaded evening gowns worn by Hollywood icons and royalty, experimental coats, pleated satin jackets and wonderful Boho pieces made in my renaissance period in the early 2000s.” - Dame Zandra Rhodes.

The third collection featured in this auction is that of the late Anne-Marie Sherwood, a lifelong collector of historic dress. Part I of her collection is included in this sale comprising 26 lots dating from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Included are sumptuous Spitalfields and French brocades,18th-century stays, and mid-19th century printed cottons.

In addition to the three collections that we’re featuring in this auction, we begin the sale with a strong selection of Lagerfeld-era Chanel, particularly from the Métiers d'Art collections, which showcase the craftsmanship and skills of the artisans employed by Chanel. Modern fashion is well-represented, with rare examples by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and John Paul Gaultier all making appearances in the catalogue. Icons of twentieth-century haute couture also have their place in the sale, from Schiaparelli haute couture to stunning silhouettes by Christian Dior. 2025 marks the 200^th anniversary of Charles Frederick Worth’s birth, and we are pleased to present seven lots from the fashion house, dating from circa 1885 to 1908. Our earliest and perhaps most rare item in the sale is the gentleman’s ruffler worn by Sir Edwin Rich in the 1620s. Additionally, we have some further exceptional examples of 18^th century dress, including a wonderful historicist oxblood silk gown dating from the 1780s, a rare 1790s hat, and a fabulous pair of silk damask high-heels from the early 18^th century.

This is arguably the finest private collection of Napoleonic and Regency period dress in the world. It stands out not only for the range of clothes (1790s to 1820s) but also for the individual beauty of the garments and the remarkably good overall condition.  Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster have painstakingly put together this collection over the last two decades, their interest sparked by the discovery of fashion plates from ‘Costume Parisien’ and later the same day finding garments of the same period in a flea market.  

‘Our collection started because we wanted to fully understand the clothes that people wore in the Napoleonic and Regency period. Each dress tells a story about the owner, the activity and the time of day it was used. The collection grew larger as we tried to incorporate items that represented the development of cut and methods of construction during the period from 1795 to 1820’,

This is the first auction dedicated to the clothing of this era, ranging from adapted transitional post French revolutionary dress of the 1790s to the French first empire (1805-1815) and the period in England when Prince George ruled as Regent (1811-1820). The majority of these exceptional garments have been exhibited across Europe and the USA in the past, 

Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster, whilst sad to see their collection dispersed, state: ‘Our passion for the clothing and fashions of this fascinating period of history is undiminished, but we hope that the new caretakers of these historic artefacts, be they people with a passion, collectors or institutions, will take care of them and love them as much as we did’.

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