Saleroom News
Forthcoming Auction - Collection from the estate of Valerie Finnis, The Dower House, Boughton
Fine Art & Country House Sale 26th & 27th September 2007
Cheffins Auctioneers in Cambridge are proud to announce the forthcoming auction of the residue of the estate of the late Lady Montagu Douglas Scott (Valerie Finnis 1924-2006).
Valerie Finnis was a well respected gardener, photographer and philanthropist. Over the years Valerie recorded her world of wonderful gardens and friends in a splendid archive of photographs. Valerie married Sir David Scott, who lived at The Dower House, Boughton in July 1970. Both were keen gardeners and in a picture illustrated in Ursula Buchan’s ‘Garden People - Valerie Finnis & the Golden Age of Gardening’, (Thames & Hudson), they can both be seen gardening later that day after the wedding! Their home and garden was a happy place with a constant flow of fascinating visitors, all of whom she would photograph with her Rolleiflex. Included amongst those she photographed were Sir David Bowes Lyon, Vita Sackville-West, Percy Thrower and Roald Dahl. These and many more Valerie would capture on her beloved camera and then store in her leather bound photo albums. Sir David Scott died in 1986 aged 99 and Valerie died in October 2006 aged 81. According to her friend Ursula Buchan, ‘her spirit remained strong, and she retained her puckish sense of humour to the last.’
Cheffins Two Day Fine Art & Country House Sale will include furniture, silver & collectors items, including items from the estate of Valerie Finnis, including some wonderful items such as a rare Minton majolica cheese bell in the form of a beehive, est; £4,000-6,000.
Auction to be held at Cheffins Auctioneers, 1 & 2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA.
Viewing will be from the previous Sunday or online at www.cheffins.co.uk
Cheffins Auctioneers
Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA
Tel: 01223 213343
Email: fine.art@cheffins.co.uk