RUPERT MCBAIN
Rupert brings a depth of knowledge and experience and since moving up from London to the family home in 1992, has been involved with many of the most important private and public collections in England.
Rupert has handled sales from a number of historic collections in addition to co-ordinating chattel negotiations, valuations and authentication projects.
He has lectured on various subjects including seminars for the Decorative Arts Programme at Glasgow University, the conservation and re-display of an important 15thC Netherlandish retable for The Bowes Museum and research and conservation of 16thC misericords.
Rupert also runs an award-winning contemporary furniture studio with an international client-base.
With over thirty years experience as an independent advisor and conservator, Rupert manages our conservation projects.
Rupert works with Museums, The National Trust and many of the most important historic collections in England such as Castle Howard, Newby Hall, Seaton Deleval, Cragside and Raby Castle, to name but a few.
philip byrne
Philip began his career in the electrical industry where he still has business interests.
His passion for art history began at an early age where he regularly visited country house collections and auctions with family. While working full time in the electrical industry Philip continued developing his eye and knowledge primarily in the field of 18th century English and Irish furniture. He soon understood that the only way of getting a true understanding of the merit of an individual piece was studying as many comparable examples as possible, this resulted in regular visits to London to visit dealers, museums and many of the great private and public collections throughout England.
A rare opportunity arose when he was asked to source pieces of 18th century English and Irish furniture of merit. Over the subsequent years Philip has handled the acquisition of pieces attributed to William Kent, William Hallett, William Vile, John Cobb, William Linnell, John Linnell, Isaac Odell, Matthias Lock, John Vardy, Henry Hill, George Bullock, Richard Cranfield, Frances Booker and William Moore, in addition to pieces originally forming part of the great Arthur Leidesdorf collection in New York. There has also been a number of late 17th and early 18th century furniture without any firm attribution but of museum quality.
Another notable discovery was an incredibly rare 18th century writing table attributed to William Vile, discovered in a private collection in Australia which subsequently sold to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Philip has also handled the acquisition and sale of European sculpture, 18th, 19th and 20th century British art and Chinese artifacts.
One of Philip's most recent acquisitions was an incredibly rare mid-18th century Irish sofa which was illustrated by the Knight of Glin and James Peill from an archive image provided by the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. The whereabouts of this incredibly rare sofa had previously been unknown.
Philip continues to source for private clients and interior designers in addition to pieces for our own inventory.
Philip is also a keen stock man where he breeds and shows his flock of pedigree Suffolk Sheep.
Lucy jenkins
Lucy has worked as an art curator for twenty five years, with specific focus on modern and contemporary art. She has extensive experience in organising exhibitions, managing collections and commissioning new work from artists. She has also taught Art Curatorship at Masters level at Newcastle University and continues to contribute to academic teaching and professional development workshops.
Lucy has curated exhibitions on modern British and European Art including shows of work by William Roberts, John Tunnard, and German Expressionsism. She has commissioned work by Jane and Louise Wilson, Mat Collishaw, and Turner prize winning artist Lubaina Himid. She has written and contributed to a number of publications including The Art of Ageing: the art and science of ageing (2011), A Secret Service (2006) Lubaina Himid, Naming the Money (2004), Expressionism in Germany (1999).
Our Past Projects
Rupert McBain
Castle Howard
Surveying the collection and the conservation of 18th century decorative art.
The Bowes Museum
Surveying every decorative object, excluding ceramics, in the collection. This was done over a period of 6 months and culminated in a report detailing advice on storage, displaying, conservation and budgetary requirements.
A 15th Century Flemish Altarpiece at The Bowes Museum. The Altarpiece was researched, conserved and re-displayed by Rupert and his studio.
Newby Hall
Conservation of the stolen Chippendale Pembroke Table after its recovery.
The National Trust
Surveys and conservation work at major properties including Nostell Priory, Seaton Deleval and Cragside.
Private Collector-England
Advising and acquiring historically important pieces of 18th century English furniture and modern British paintings.
Raby Castle
Most notably the research and re-instating of missing elements of their Weeks Cabinet and conservation of an important suite of Gothic Revival furniture.
The Warwick Cabinet
Detailed report and conservation advice for the marquetry panel by Andre Charles Boulle contained within the cabinet.
Lucy Jenkins
Selection of Exhibitions and Publications:
Chuck Close Tapestries, 2017, Ushaw College, Durham
Waterfall by Steve Messam, 2016, outdoor installation County Durham
Coming of Age: the Art and Science of Ageing, 2011, Great North Museum and Newcastle University; GV Arts, London; shortlisted for Times Higher Education Award
Naming the Money, Lubaina Himid,2004, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle
The Water Closet Workshop, 2003, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle and touring throughout the UK
Behind the Mask, exhibition catalogue, 2002, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle in collaboration with The National Portrait Gallery
Rubens and his Workshop Engravers, 2000, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery in collaboration with the Siegerlandmuseum, Siegen, Germany
Expressionism in Germany 1905-1925, 1999, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, awarded North East exhibition of the year by What’s On Manchester
