Q&A with Sigi Cassel | Julia Boston Antiques

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^{Sigi Cassel - Julia Boston Antiques}

‘Tile Barn has always felt like a place where one could discover treasure. Every bookshelf and every frame held delights that could keep one browsing through the house for hours.

Charles's love of antique lighting and his collections of English Victoriana worked in symbiosis alongside Julia's talent for choosing the most beautiful and pared back pieces of European furniture.

Julia is a supreme hostess and many lively discussions were had here on politics and art over pheasant and souffle cooked by her and served on their collection of 18th and 19th century ceramics.

The collection of Tile Barn is a joyous celebration of the best of English and European antiques from the last few centuries.’

Sigi Cassel | Julia Boston Antiques

Can you tell us more about the origins of Tile Barn itself? How did it come to be such a treasure trove of antiques and curiosities?

Charles first discovered the plot before he knew Julia. What became Tile Barn was originally a tumbledown farm building with some very basic Victorian cottages surrounding it. Many would shy away from this but an antiques dealers through and through, he saw a gem in need of sympathetic restoration. Years of building without rushing allowed Charles to slowly craft a home which would act as a back drop both to Charles’ lighting designs and to his and Julia's tastes in English and European furniture.

^{Sigi's Top Lots: A velvet-upholstered Knole sofa (£400-600)}

Lot 20: The velvet Knole sofa gives a real wow factor. Its scale is fabulous and the midnight blue velvet and cushions are the epitome of grand country house style, I’ve always loved it.

What initially drew Charles and Julia to antique collecting, and how did their individual tastes influence the character of the collection?

Charles’ mother was an antiques dealer, and so was his sister Liz Farrow who dealt in advertising ephemera, some of which can be seen in the sale. Charles began his career as an antiques dealer on Abingdon Road after his time at Trinity College Dublin. Despite his move into lighting he never lost his love for antiques and English furniture, keeping his shop on Rumbold Road as an outpost for interesting pieces which came his way. Julia was brought up in Holland Park surrounded by antiques and her early days were often spent with her mother on Portobello Road and at Bermondsey market. She collected stamps first and then antique prints. At 17 she started working with a Greek picture restorer which led her to a career in gilding and picture framing, antique prints and now antique furniture, paintings and tapestries at her shop on The King’s Road. The collection for sale at Sworders brings together some of Charles’ classic English Victorian country house pieces like the Gothic Revival cupboard (lot 92) with it’s wonderful brass candle sconces mounted on top, alongside Julia’s European taste in items like lot 61, the 19th century gilt and composition mirror with it’s magnificent original mercury glass plate.

^{Sigi's Top Lots: A neoclassical fruitwood commode (£200-400)}

Lot 99: The Empire fruitwood commode is a classic piece of furniture which suits both modern and antique interiors alike, the turned front feet are a lovely detail and the white veined marble top feels fresh.

Tile Barn seems to have been a lively social space. Could you share more about the kinds of gatherings that took place and how the collection played a role in these occasions?

Tile Barn was the most welcoming spot to be entertained in by Charles and Julia. In the winter there would be small house parties and a fire burning in the large chimney and a delicious smell of a roasting joint in the oven making its way through from the kitchen. In the summer Charles and Julia would host terrific summer parties for their staff in the cow byre in the garden where fillet and Eton Mess would be served alongside flowing wine. Of course, lighting always played a huge part in social occasions, in the winter table lamps would create atmosphere through every corner of the house and in the summer the lanterns and wall lights hanging in the cow byre would twinkle over the views of Northamptonshire as twilight fell in.

^{Sigi's Top Lots: Nineteen various food and drink advertising pictures (£200-400)}

Lot 142: Charles’ collection of Victorian advertising memorabilia (via his sister, Liz) has been beautifully framed and makes a wonderfully decorative effect hung closely together.

Was there a particular philosophy or approach that guided Charles and Julia's acquisitions over the years?

Julia’s philosophy has always been ‘buy the very best you can’ and we still run the shop on The King’s Road with this in mind.

^{Sigi's Top Lots: A large painted-metal hanging lantern (£1,000-2,000)}

Lot 31: The large hanging lantern is marvellous in its stature and elegant in its form. It holds its own in a space without being too showy.

Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 March | 10am

fineinteriors@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778

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