Howard Hodgkin. Portrait of the Artist

“I have absolutely no desire to collect my own work,  but do have what with age seems an almost unquenchable thirst for acquiring others things to look at” Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017)

Howard Hodgkin life-long passion for collecting started early when as a child he began assembling what would eventually become an extensive and important collection of Indian art. But he didn’t stop there. Over the course of seven decades, his interests widened impressively. A glance at the inventory of the estate he left after his recent death in March 2017 reveals a bewildering diversity. In addition to Indian art, his eclectic taste extended to the wider field of Islamic art: modern British paintings, tapestries, rugs and carpets: sculpture, prints; furniture; antiquities; ceramics and glass: and least, a library, situated under his studio, containing an astonishing array of archives and books.

“He believed in what he called ‘Costume jewellery for the home’: objects with little apparent, practical use that excited the eye in unexpected ways…” Antony Peattie

400 of this fascinating pieces will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on 24 October. See below some of my favourite lots.

Fragment from the Von Hirsch Garden Carpet. Northwest Persia, 17th century

Exotic Chinoiserie landscape tapestry. France, Aubusson. Mid 18th century.

‘Emperor Akbar Riding an elephant on a hunting expedition’ Mughal, early 17th century

Iznik Pottery tile with pomegranates. Turkey, c.1580-1620

De-Luxe Tailors, Bhupen Khakhar. 1972

Scallop shell crested oval frame. In the manner of William Kent. 18th century

Single niche (qanat) tent panel. Mughal India, possibly Jaipur. Probably 17th/18th century.

Italian mirror. 18th century

Upholstered sofa. East Caucasus. The Soumakh circa 1870. The sofa victorian.

Rococo Wall bracket. Germany. 18th century

Carved Jali screen. India 18th century

Images: Sotheby’s