Art Auction

‘Baroness Thrift’, 85, who shared tips on how to run a stately home on a budget, is set to auction off £400,000 worth of possessions and downsizes from £8million Belgravia flat

January 8, 20257 Mins Read


The contents of the London home of the so-called ‘Baroness Thrift’ are up for sale.

Baroness Patricia Rawlings, who has famously shared tips on how to run a stately home on a budget, is downsizing from her £8 million flat in Eaton Square, Belgravia.

The life peer is unable to take most of her collection of high-end furniture, art, antiques and carpets with her to new, smaller apartment and so is selling a number of her possession at auction – expected to reach £400,000.

Now aged 85, Baroness Rawlings, a former government whip, said parting with her lifelong treasures was ‘bittersweet’ for her.

Experts say the items have been amassed from around the world and are testament to her ‘refined cosmopolitan taste’ and ‘profound appreciation for art and history.’

One of the sale highlights of the sale is a 1966 collection of 24 lithographs by world famous artist Marc Chagall.

The pieces, which were printed in Paris, are expected to bring £16,000 in the sale.

Another major piece is a trio of oil paintings by renowned Vietnamese artist Vu Cao Dam.

The contents of the London home of so-called 'Baroness Thrift' are being sold for £400,000 (interior of the house pictured). A pair of Chinese reserve glass paintings (one pictured second from the bottom) valued at £600 and a Doris Clare Zinkeisen valued at £1,000. A Dutch cabinet, pictured, is valued at £3,000

The contents of the London home of so-called ‘Baroness Thrift’ are being sold for £400,000 (interior of the house pictured). A pair of Chinese reserve glass paintings (one pictured second from the bottom) valued at £600 and a Doris Clare Zinkeisen valued at £1,000. A Dutch cabinet, pictured, is valued at £3,000

Left chandelier (pictured) valued at £8,000. Right chandelier valued at £5,000

Left chandelier (pictured) valued at £8,000. Right chandelier valued at £5,000

The three works show a mother and her child in French-Vietnamese society. They are valued at £50,000 each.

Baroness Rawlings is selling a collection of Chinese art, including a pale nineteenth century jade vase, which has an estimate of £15,000.

A 12in high sculpture entitled ‘Figure Between Walls’, by renowned artist Kenneth Armitage, is expected to fetch up to £8,000.

There is a second Armitage sculpture, 8.5in high, called ‘Playful Figure’, valued at £15,000.

A 13in high sculpture by Lynn Chadwick, entitled ‘Maquette for the Trigons’, is another highlight of the sale and is valued at £15,000.

The final major piece is also a pair of nineteenth century glass chandeliers, valued at £8,000.

A second pair of George III bronze mounted chandeliers by Parker and Perry are valued at £5,000. 

A large silk Kesi panel from the Qing Dynasty is valued at £1,800.

The life peer is unable to take most of her collection of high-end furniture, art, antiques and carpets with her to new, smaller apartment. A pair of Chinese famile verte vases valued £5,000

The life peer is unable to take most of her collection of high-end furniture, art, antiques and carpets with her to new, smaller apartment. A pair of Chinese famile verte vases valued £5,000

Experts say the items have been amassed from around the world and are testament to her 'refined cosmopolitan taste' and 'profound appreciation for art and history'. Mid-20th century carved serpentine side table valued at £1,800

Experts say the items have been amassed from around the world and are testament to her ‘refined cosmopolitan taste’ and ‘profound appreciation for art and history’. Mid-20th century carved serpentine side table valued at £1,800

Experts say the items have been amassed from around the world and are testament to her 'refined cosmopolitan taste' and 'profound appreciation for art and history'. A second glass light chandelier valued at £8,000 (pictured)

Experts say the items have been amassed from around the world and are testament to her ‘refined cosmopolitan taste’ and ‘profound appreciation for art and history’. A second glass light chandelier valued at £8,000 (pictured)

The auction is part of Dreweatts Auctions' Town and Country sale in Newbury, Berkshire. A large Chinese Kesi silk from the Qing Dynasty valued at £1,800

The auction is part of Dreweatts Auctions’ Town and Country sale in Newbury, Berkshire. A large Chinese Kesi silk from the Qing Dynasty valued at £1,800

One of the sale highlights of the sale is a 1966 collection of 24 lithographs by world famous artist Marc Chagall. A large Chinese sculpture valued at £1,500 (pictured on mantle).

One of the sale highlights of the sale is a 1966 collection of 24 lithographs by world famous artist Marc Chagall. A large Chinese sculpture valued at £1,500 (pictured on mantle).

Baroness Rawlings is selling a collection of Chinese art, including a pale nineteenth century jade vase, which has an estimate of £15,000 (pictured)

Baroness Rawlings is selling a collection of Chinese art, including a pale nineteenth century jade vase, which has an estimate of £15,000 (pictured)

Baroness Patricia Rawlings, who has famously shared tips on how to run a stately home on a budget, is downsizing from her £8m flat in Eaton Square, Belgravia

Baroness Patricia Rawlings, who has famously shared tips on how to run a stately home on a budget, is downsizing from her £8m flat in Eaton Square, Belgravia

Baroness Rawlings was seen as one of London’s high society’s most beautiful women and was known for her wit and charm.

She was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1989 and was made a life peer in 1994.

The Conservative politician was notably opposition whip in the House of Lords from 1997-1998 and then government whip from 2010-2012.

The auction is part of Dreweatts Auctions’ Town and Country sale in Newbury, Berkshire.

Baroness Rawlings said: ‘The collection represents my lifelong love and joy of collecting works of interest and quality.

‘I am sad to part with so many friends but hope anyone who buys them will cherish and enjoy the pieces as I have done.’

Joe Robinson, head of the house sales and private collections department at Dreweatts, said: ‘Lady Rawlings has curated a collection that is diverse and varied, but also incredibly synergistic.

‘Hailing from different continents and eras, the constituent pieces bear testament to the manner in which artistic styles and techniques have evolved across the globe through cross-cultural exchange.

Joe Robinson, head of the house sales and private collections department at Dreweatts, said: 'Lady Rawlings has curated a collection that is diverse and varied, but also incredibly synergistic. A venetian oval 20th century mirror £1,200 and a Dutch cabinet valued at £1,500

Joe Robinson, head of the house sales and private collections department at Dreweatts, said: ‘Lady Rawlings has curated a collection that is diverse and varied, but also incredibly synergistic. A venetian oval 20th century mirror £1,200 and a Dutch cabinet valued at £1,500

Baroness Rawlings said: 'The collection represents my lifelong love and joy of collecting works of interest and quality'

Baroness Rawlings said: ‘The collection represents my lifelong love and joy of collecting works of interest and quality’

A pair of glass chandeliers are being sold for £8,000

A pair of glass chandeliers are being sold for £8,000

It comes nearly a decade after the thrifty baroness was faced with a ruthless legal battle against her former lover in 2017. Lodewijk Frederik Henrik Winter in the Forest (pictured) valued at £10,000

It comes nearly a decade after the thrifty baroness was faced with a ruthless legal battle against her former lover in 2017. Lodewijk Frederik Henrik Winter in the Forest (pictured) valued at £10,000

Baroness Rawlings was seen as one of London's high society's most beautiful women and was known for her wit and charm. A 20th century brass chandelier valued at £1,200

Baroness Rawlings was seen as one of London’s high society’s most beautiful women and was known for her wit and charm. A 20th century brass chandelier valued at £1,200

Baroness Rawlings was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1989 and was made a life peer in 1994

Baroness Rawlings was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 1989 and was made a life peer in 1994

Lady Rawlings, who is understood to be resisting the claim, was criticised for being out of touch in 2013 when she called for the Government to promote the use of electric blankets on beds as a way of reducing family fuel bills

Lady Rawlings, who is understood to be resisting the claim, was criticised for being out of touch in 2013 when she called for the Government to promote the use of electric blankets on beds as a way of reducing family fuel bills

The auction takes place 22 on January

The auction takes place 22 on January

Lady Rawlings said: 'I am sad to part with so many friends but hope anyone who buys them will cherish and enjoy the pieces as I have done'. A large Chinese sculpture valued at £1,500 (pictured on mantle). A Kenetian grey side table valued at £10,000

Lady Rawlings said: ‘I am sad to part with so many friends but hope anyone who buys them will cherish and enjoy the pieces as I have done’. A large Chinese sculpture valued at £1,500 (pictured on mantle). A Kenetian grey side table valued at £10,000

‘We at Dreweatts are delighted to be delivering the works in the collection to their next destination.’

The auction takes place 22 on January.

In 2017 she became embroiled in a legal dispute with her former partner, the millionaire financier Paul Zuckerman, over the future of their £7m country estate in Norfolk. 

Lady Rawlings was left fighting to keep hold of her country estate after her former lover launched a legal bid to force the sale of the £7 million property they once shared.

She once lived with millionaire financier Paul Zuckerman, in their North Norfolk mansion Burnham Westgate Hall – not far from the Royal estate at Sandringham – until they separated in 2009.

The former Government whip continued to live in the 13-bedroom, Grade II listed Georgian mansion, dividing her time between there and her other home in Westminster, London. 

Dr Zuckerman lodged a claim in the High Court, demanding that the house is sold so he can receive a share of the equity in the property he and Lady Rawlings jointly own after buying it in 1991. 

Lady Rawlings, who is understood to be resisting the claim, was criticised for being out of touch in 2013 when she called for the Government to promote the use of electric blankets on beds as a way of reducing family fuel bills. 

She revealed more tips for thrifty living in 2014, telling Tatler magazine that discarded crusts from melba toast could be used as boiled egg soldiers. 



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