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Lot Essay
PERCIVAL GRIFFITHS & GEOFFREY BLACKWELL
The collection formed by Percival D. Griffiths, F.S.A (d. 1938). under the wise counsel of R. W. Symonds is considered to be arguably the greatest collection of English Furniture formed last Century. Indeed, it was Griffiths' collection that provided the content for Symonds' seminal work English Furniture from Charles II to George II, 1929. The interiors at Sandridgebury are happily recalled in 'Sandridgebury: The Country Residence of Percival D. Griffiths', published by Symonds in Antiques, March 1931, pp. 193-196. Symonds later published 'Percival Griffiths, F.S.A.: A Memoir on a Great Collector of English Furniture', The Antique Collector, November-December 1943, pp. 163-169.
Geoffrey Blackwell, O.B.E. (1884-1943) was one of Symonds' main collectors of the generation after Griffiths. His collection was unusual in combining modern British pictures and Georgian furniture, which he furnished his Berkhamsted house. Blackwell's furniture formed the subject of two articles by Symonds in Apollo in 1936. Symonds was behind the formation of several other prominent collections such as those formed by J. S. Sykes, James Thursby Pelham, E. B. Moller and Frederick Poke and often acted as intermediary between collectors when they decide to 'refine' their collections. A group of furniture from Blackwell's collection was sold by members of the Blackwell family, in these Rooms, 9 July 1992, lots 137-146 and a George II walnut side table was sold by a descendant of Geoffrey Blackwell, Christie's, London, 4 June 2009, lot 111 (£133,250).
The collection formed by Percival D. Griffiths, F.S.A (d. 1938). under the wise counsel of R. W. Symonds is considered to be arguably the greatest collection of English Furniture formed last Century. Indeed, it was Griffiths' collection that provided the content for Symonds' seminal work English Furniture from Charles II to George II, 1929. The interiors at Sandridgebury are happily recalled in 'Sandridgebury: The Country Residence of Percival D. Griffiths', published by Symonds in Antiques, March 1931, pp. 193-196. Symonds later published 'Percival Griffiths, F.S.A.: A Memoir on a Great Collector of English Furniture', The Antique Collector, November-December 1943, pp. 163-169.
Geoffrey Blackwell, O.B.E. (1884-1943) was one of Symonds' main collectors of the generation after Griffiths. His collection was unusual in combining modern British pictures and Georgian furniture, which he furnished his Berkhamsted house. Blackwell's furniture formed the subject of two articles by Symonds in Apollo in 1936. Symonds was behind the formation of several other prominent collections such as those formed by J. S. Sykes, James Thursby Pelham, E. B. Moller and Frederick Poke and often acted as intermediary between collectors when they decide to 'refine' their collections. A group of furniture from Blackwell's collection was sold by members of the Blackwell family, in these Rooms, 9 July 1992, lots 137-146 and a George II walnut side table was sold by a descendant of Geoffrey Blackwell, Christie's, London, 4 June 2009, lot 111 (£133,250).