About Us
Summers Place Auctions in association with Sotheby’s are the world’s leading auctioneers of Garden Statuary and Fossil Decoration. The first sale was held over 20 years ago as part of Sotheby’s Country House saleroom at Summers Place in Sussex, since which time the sales have flourished, establishing a global reputation. Following restructuring the department now runs in association with Sotheby’s and is staffed by the same team who, between them, have over 100 years experience working for Sotheby’s.
A wealth and diversity of material offered over the years has included everything from a whole Italianate garden of fountains, terraces, a lakeside jetty and statuary weighing more than 500 tons shipped over from Massachusetts, USA to a 15 foot high bronze bust of Lenin, liberated from a town square in Latvia following the fall of the iron curtain.
On the architectural side, the discovery in a modest flat in Southport Lancashire, of the original gilded walnut panelling from the first class dining room of the R.M.S. Olympic, the sister ship to the Titanic, attracted world wide press before selling privately prior to it’s installation in a luxury cruise liner. Other highlights include a world record price of £250,000 for a pair of Portland stone figures of nymphs and satyrs byCharles Sargeant Jagger from the Childe Beale Trust.
James Rylands joined Sotheby’s in 1979, after gaining a degree in History of Art. He initiated the sales of Garden Statuary in 1986 and as a director of the company also qualified as a chartered surveyor. James co-wrote a book on Garden Ornament for Thames and Hudson and contributes articles to antiques magazines. As well as lecturing on many aspects of the antiques business, he also appears regularly on B.B.C. antiques programmes including “The Antiques Roadshow”.
Rupert van der Werff graduated with a degree in Archaeology of Western Asia from University College London in 1994. He joined Sotheby’s Bond Street in 1997 was appointed Head of the Garden Statuary Department in 2001 as well as qualifying as a Chartered surveyor in the same year. He also co-wrote Garden Antiques published by Millers in 2003 and contributed to the Virgin Guide to Antiques of the future as well as writing numerous articles for Antiques magazines.
Kate Diment , Departmental assistant, joined Sotheby’s in 1995 working in many areas before finding her metier with us in 2001 . She is also qualified as a chartered surveyor.
Letty Stiles , Company secretary and Departmental assistant joined Sotheby’s in 1984, ending up as head of the Accounts department before Sotheby’s relocation to Olympia.
Jason Stiles , Landscape gardener , collections and deliveries has recently joined us from a career in plant retail and design. As a member of the Brinsbury College team he won an award at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Les Baker , Gardener, joined Sotheby’s in 1979 and retired as head porter in 2000 before being enticed back as our gardener.