Sale of the Century

death, Johnson was faced with death duties approaching Ł1,000,000, and set about realising assets to pay this, and to pay for the urgent rehabilitation of the estate. Unkinder commentators reckoned that he was cashing in his chips.

Whichever the case, Christie's were called in, took a look and reckoned they might just make a million on this stuff.

The crucial moment was when Johnson discovered a Regency despatch box in the strong room. It contained detailed correspondence and accounts regarding the furnishing of the house. Included were bills from George Bullock, who had supplied virtually every stick in there. Bullock had long been fancied by experts as a possible equal to Chippendale, but they weren't quite sure. When they saw such a hoard of attributable work, the experts came off the fence. Bullock was "in", just in time for Mr. Johnson's sale. Neat.

The enthusiasm of the furniture experts infected the rest of the punters, and an orgy of frantic bidding pushed totals beyond all expectations.

So, three and a half posts from a four-poster bed went for Ł2,600, and three chipped toothbrush dishes went for Ł935.

These bathroom accessories were part of a set, intended for Napoleon's use in his final exile on St. Helena. At the last moment, they weren't sent. It was thought that the leaf pattern too closely resembled the laurels of victory and somewhat tactless.

The lowest price was Ł28, for a pile of pelmets and fragments of rotting Victorian chintz.

So that's how two and a half million pounds came to Tew. And Johnson had already realised Ł227,000 on the sale of the Library, and Ł90,000 for a collection of drawings.

Boulton, Robb & Johnson

The Boulton Drawings