London’s New Bond Street’s Bonhams salesroom has listed for auction a few items belonging to the late Saudi billionaire Walid Juffali.
Although what is displayed represents a small fraction of Juffali’s possessions, the first impression striking onlookers is that the late businessman enjoyed a high-end taste for art.
The collection of paintings, antiques, sculptures and objets d'art belonging to the late Juffali, will be put up for auction on 26 March 2018 at Bishopsgate House, his estate in Surrey, UK.
The collection includes woodwork benches and cabinets stacked with sculptures and silverware and topped with paintings belonging to prominent artists such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and many others.
Equestrian awards were also put on display.
The collection is very diverse, Bonhams sales Director Charlie Thomas told Asharq Al Awsat.
Thomas pointed out that Juffali as a collector knew what he wanted, and made sure that every home he owned held character.
The exhibits differed according to their whereabouts, Thomas noted.
For example, Juffali art pieces in his London household differ from those in his country residence, explained Thomas.
In London, Juffali chose to create a modern and contemporary atmosphere by viewing works by Picasso, Chagall and Miro. The general ambiance is simplistic, spacious and pure.
While in his country house, the furnishing was traditional and inspired by the English countryside.
An extraordinary 24-seats dining table serves the traditional outlet the country’s estate is meant to deliver.
We can only envision the magnificent banquets held in this room, said Thomas.
Next to the table, there were sets of porcelain and expensive silverware, as well as English and French furniture, books, and other valuable items. The auction includes nearly 500 pieces that decorated Juffali’s estates.
There are several awe-striking garden sculptures, as well as an old wooden boat that has been transformed into a work of art, thanks to the designs of the colorful glass artist Dale Chihuly.
