Couple’s lifetime art collection heads to auction in Harborough
The private collection of a couple at the heart of Leicester’s art scene from the 1960s onwards will be auctioned on Tuesday 27 October at Gildings Auctioneers in Market Harborough.
The Shirley and Douglas Smith collection was meticulously selected by the couple over their decades together.
Now, Gildings Auctioneers are in charge of selling pieces of art, sculpture and furniture.
In 1987, the Smiths built their own bungalow in Evington where they showcased their art alongside modernist furniture.
Douglas Smith died in 2024 at the age of 94 and had been both an architect and a respected artist.
Twenty-eight of his paintings are included in the auction.
Shirley and Douglas met at the Leicester School of Architecture, now De Montfort University. Douglas started the architecture practice Douglas Smith Stimson Partnership Limited (DSSP), and Shirley, with her degree in interior design, went on to work in the practice with him.
The collection includes artworks by internationally renowned names like David Hockney, James Morrison and John Piper.
Gildings director and 20th century art and design specialist, Will Gilding said: “Stepping into the home of Shirley and Douglas Smith was to be immersed in their passion for art, craft and design.
“The Smiths were a couple who truly connected with art, and their home offered a wonderful snapshot of the Leicester art scene of the second half of the 20th century through to the 21st. So, it feels right to open the sale with the first artwork they acquired, the John Piper Sunflowers.”
Other pieces include a sculpture by Geoffrey Clarke and a mid-century modernist birch dining suite by Alvar Aalto for Finmar Ltd, with a guide price of £4,000 to £6,000.
Will said: “Whether you’re looking to acquire a significant piece of 20th-century design or a surprisingly affordable piece of local art, this is a fantastic opportunity to acquire something original.
“A good many works are offered below £50, and with bids starting at £10, you don't have to blow the budget to acquire something eye-catching!”
The auction will be held both online and in the saleroom at Gildings Auctioneers in Market Harborough at 11am on Tuesday, October 27.