The King’s go-to interior designer, Robert Kime, passed away in August, leaving an extraordinary legacy in the design world – and a remarkable collection of objects – many of which will be sold at auction this week.
Born in 1946, Kime worked on six homes for King Charles (then Prince of Wales), as well as creating stately spaces for a realm of other high-society clients and building a reputation as a “great assembler of beautiful things”.
Kime’s eponymous business is now run by Managing Director Orlando Atty, and has outposts on Ebury Street in London and in Marlborough, Wiltshire.
On behalf of Kime’s estate, Auction house Dreweatts is holding a three-day sale of the contents of his homes in London and Provence, describing the event as “the culmination of Robert’s lifetime of collecting”. The family says they hope the sale “will give the opportunity for all collectors, young and old, to enjoy the objects Robert chose to call ‘old friends.’”
The live online auction (Robert Kime: The Personal Collection) will take place over three days at Dreweatts Donnington Priory salerooms on Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th & Friday 6th October.
Hannah Kime, daughter of the late Robert Kime: “Watching the way that our living spaces could be made from interwoven strands of the remarkable and unremarkable, to assemble an environment that really sang, has given me a great appreciation of how it is possible to create feelings of nurture and substantial support out of your surroundings. From the decorations for a party, to a garden, a house or a single room, wherever it is and however little there may be to work with, my mother and father showed me that every choice quietly made in the curation of that space, can contribute to a place that continually feeds your eyes and soothes your spirit.”
Find out more at www.dreweatts.com, or view the catalogue here
Dreweatts has produced a series of videos to promote sale and explore the world of Robert Kime:
Robert Kime – A modern British influence, with Simon Martin
In this video, Simon Martin, Director of Pallant House Gallery, and Will Porter, Dreweatts Co-Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, share some personal insights into some of Robert’s most loved artists and collection of paintings, as he chose to have them surround him in his last home in London.
Appreciating Robert Kime: Part One
Design luminaries and society denizens including Nina Campbell, Annabel Elliot, Liz Elliot, Will Fisher, Robin Birley, Rupert Thomas, and Michael S. Smith pay tribute to the late Robert Kime, reminiscing about their time with the influential interior designer.
Appreciating Robert Kime: Part Two
Five of Kime’s closest collaborators and colleagues discuss times spent with the designer, and how “working with Robert could puzzle, intrigue, and frustrate and delight… but above all, enrich their lives with the forging of an unforgettable and much-valued friendship.” Featuring interviews with architect Mary-Lou Arscott; fashion designer Gela-Nash Taylor (a former client, and current owner/custodian of South Wraxall Manor); Orlando Atty, Managing Director of Robert Kime Ltd; Christopher Payne, Head of Antique Sales at Robert Kime Ltd; and fabric designer Gisella Milne-Watson.
Full auction info: www.dreweatts.com/auctions/robert-kime-the-personal-collection-14587
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Main image: Image via Dreweatts
