Interior designer Anouska Hempel selling contents of family mansion

They are coming from the 18th-century manor of Shaw House, at Shaw, near Melksham, which was sold for around £3.3 million in August last year.

The auction will take place online on Tuesday, August 15 and will include furniture, paintings and other works pertaining to the Hempel design ethos spanning contemporary to antiquity.

Joe Robinson, Dreweatts’ Head of House Sales & Collections, said: “Anouska Hempel, a doyen of English interior design, has an iconic aesthetic characterised by bold pattern, fascinating objects and an innate sensibility for the atmosphere within an interior.

“Dreweatts are proud to be offering this collection which stands as a record of her impeccable eye and offers buyers an opportunity to capture works that are ‘AH approved’.”

The Grade II-listed Shaw House showcased Hempel’s unique theatrical flair for combining contemporary style with historical nuances, clever design and the epitome of luxury in its’ interiors.

Designed in the classical style, it is set within six acres of beautifully curated grounds just east of Bradford on Avon and the historic city of Bath.

Ms Hempel, made her mark in design when she opened London’s first five-star boutique hotel Blakes, in South Kensington in 1978, followed by The Hempel in London’s Bayswater.

She was presented the prestigious Andrew Martin Lifetime Achievement Award by HRH Princess Michael of Kent in 2022 for ‘her elusive, impossible to define but instantly recognisable design.’

Ms Hempel describes her former country residence Shaw House as “a happy place” and throughout the house she showcases her familiar and unique design techniques that have brought her world-wide acclaim.

One of the Shaw House interiors. Image: courtesy of Dreweatts (Image: Image: courtesy of Inigo)These include architectural effects such as a play on perspective, dramatic colours emulating various periods and styles, as well as textural fabrics.

They complement effective groupings of furniture, set within clever lighting designs that capture the rich colour palette she uses to infuse comfort and style into the nine-bedroom manor house.

Among the highlights are a carved marble portrait head of Polideuce, possibly Roman, circa 170-177, estimated to fetch £3,000-5,000. A walnut and Italian marble topped centre table is estimated at £1,000-£1,500.

The carved Roman head (Image: Image: courtesy of Dreweatts)

A French printed ten-fold screen from the second half of the 19th century carries an estimate of £400-£600 and a pair of contemporary kilim upholstered chairs are estimated to fetch £700-£1,000.

The French ten-fold printed screen (Image: Image: courtesy of Dreweatts)

Among the artworks is a 17th century oil painting titled Portrait of a Young Girl with a Lamb (English School), which has an estimate of £3,000-£5,000.

The Portrait of a Young Girl with Lamb (Image: Image: courtesy of Dreweatts)

Another oil portrait titled Portrait of a Boy and Girl is by the Royal Academy-trained British portrait artist George Spencer Watson (1869-1934) and carries an estimate of £8,000-£12,000.

The Portrait of a Boy and Girl (Image: Image: courtesy of Dreweatts)

An etching with drypoint and aquatint titled Can-Can is by the French artist Louis Icart (188-1950) is estimated to fetch £5,000-£7,000.

Can-Can by the French artist Louis Icart (Image: Image: courtesy of Dreweatts)

Icart is celebrated for his charming etchings, sketches and paintings, which helped him stake his claim in the history books of the 20th century. He also produced prints from the etchings and both are highly sought-after.

The popularity of his work reached its height in the Art Deco period and Icart became an emblem of the epoch. 

Dreweatts is a member of the Gurr Johns group of international art advisory businesses. Its main saleroom is at Donnington Priory in Newbury, Berkshire. It has a London showroom on Pall Mall, St James’s and caters to a global clientele.