Guinevere, a long-established taste-making ‘hub’ of antique finds on the King’s Road, is to curate a special auction at Dreweatts on May 23 in celebration of its 60 years supplying antiques and decorative arts from around the world to its wide-ranging clientele.

This celebratory event also affords an opportunity to mark an end of an era at one of London’s most loved dealers on the famous Kings Road in London, as they explore new opportunities and consider the next phase.

The family-run business was the brainchild of French-born Genevieve Weaver, who moved to London in the 1960s. Already a creative force as a hat designer, her passion for antiques was inspired by furnishing her own homes. Having purchased certain pieces to fit into her own interiors, she would then sell them on in order to recreate her ever-changing taste. Her move to Chelsea saw her develop her skills into a business and Guinevere was born as a shop on the Kings Road.

Interior of Guinevere

The main draw was the range of extraordinary finds sourced on Genevieve’s travels around the world. These rare and sometimes one-off pieces were a thrilling find to a London clientele and cemented Genevieve as a tastemaker, who set new trends and broke boundaries – something the company prides itself on continuing. Today Genevieve’s sons Kevin and Marc and Marc’s wife Heather Weaver continue to build on this creative foundation and strong passion that was instilled from the company’s beginnings, sourcing wonderful collections and one-off works from around the globe. The carefully chosen works include rare furniture, textiles, lighting, decorative works of art and curious antique pieces, as well as contemporary works that are out of the ordinary and always of exceptional quality.

The premises have expanded over the years and as well as being a ‘go to’ for interior designers and private clients looking to furnish their home or find a ‘gem’, Guinevere has caught the attention of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow who raves about their famous window designs and the designer Valentino, who in an interview with the Evening Standard was asked “Who is in your secret address book”, to which he replied: “For gifts, I like Guinevere Antiques on the King's Road.”

This special auction will offer Guinevere a chance to champion what it has achieved, while it continues to evolve in the ever-changing digital landscape, as tastes change and demand soars for certain works and styles in a contemporary age. This means it will be the last chance to shop at Guinevere as we know it.

As you enter the premises you wander through expansive galleries on a mini ‘Grand Tour’, with rooms arranged as settings for dinner, drinks, relaxing or entertaining. The arrangements also change regularly, so you never have the same journey twice. Their awe-inspiring ‘settings’ speak for themselves, taking you on a foreign journey through various continents and history.

Commenting on the specially curated auction, Will Richards, Deputy Chairman of Dreweatts, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be holding the Guinevere sale, celebrating 60 years of this well-loved Kings Road institution. For generations Guinevere has been at the centre of London’s famous international antiques and interior design world. Famed for their fusion of cultural influences from around the world and range of periods from antiquity to modern and contemporary, they have a truly global client base. We are thrilled to be working with Kevin, Marc and Heather to celebrate this landmark.”

Among the highlights of the works in the sale are:

* A stunning Italian marquetry inlaid vellum sideboard by Italian designers Giuseppe Anzani and Paolo Buffa. Anzani and Buffa collaborated on many commissions from the 1930s to the 1950s. Both esteemed designers in their own right, their original designs and quality craftsmanship are still highly sought-after. The sideboard in the sale dates from 1941 and carries an estimate of £7,000-£10,000.

* A grand pair of French silvered and gilded bronze Pompeiian tripod torcheres in the sale are attributed to the French sculptor Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892). Barbedienne was considered one of the most significant casters of bronze works during the late 19th Century and the founder of one of the most important artistic foundries of the period. The ornate, yet stylish torcheres date from circa 1890 and carry and estimate of £5,000-£8,000.

* A George IV carved giltwood wall mirror, believed to be in the manner of Irish makers Francis & John Booker of Dublin, the foremost glassmakers in Ireland. The mirror dates from circa 1830 and is in the classic ornate Booker style. It carries an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.