The highlight of selected contents from Kinnaird Estate offered in our Fine Antiques sale on Wednesday 30th June 2010 was a fine Irish George II mahogany side table, circa 1750, which soared past its estimate to make a staggering £229,940. It was hotly contested by two bidders in the room until one of them was successful, while potential bidders on ten telephone lines listened in but were unable to enter the fray.

Other fine furniture from the house included two good George III mahogany and crossbanded serpentine commodes, attributed to John Cobb, which made £49,630 and £31,050 respectively; and a pair of Venetian commodes which sold for £15,520. Of historical interest was a William IV oak work table bearing a brass plaque ‘The oak of which this table is made was under the foundations of Old London Bridge ... and taken up from thence in 1833’. It sold for £2,580.

There has been a house at the estate of Kinnaird near Dunkeld in Perthshire from the early 1600s. The original part of the current main house was built in the late 18th century and the property changed hands several times during the following period. It eventually sold to John, 4th Duke of Atholl in 1826.

In 1840 the house was occupied as a dower house by Lady Glenlyon, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Northumberland, after the death of her husband, Sir James Murray, 1st Lord Glenlyon, the second son of the 4th Duke of Atholl. The central part of the house was constructed during that period. At the beginning of the 20th century the Atholl Estates were being reduced for the first time in centuries and in 1927 the 8th Duke of Atholl sold the Kinnaird Estate to Major the Hon. Sir John and Lady Ward, who further enlarged the main house.

Sir John was the second son of William Ward, Viscount Ednam and 1st Earl of Dudley. His wife, Jean, was the daughter of Whitelaw Reid, the American Ambassador to the Court of St James’s from 1905-1912. Their house parties at Kinnaird were renowned for the hospitality and sport and among their guests were members of the Royal family. In 1960 the estate was inherited by the Wards’ second son, Reginald. He married Constance Cluett, from New York, in 1975 and together they continued to run Kinnaird as a sporting and residential estate with guests from here and abroad. Following the death of Mr Ward in 1987, Mrs Ward chose to open Kinnaird as a Country House Hotel in order to preserve the house, its style and atmosphere. It duly opened in 1990 and became known worldwide as a fine hotel and a member of the Relais et Chateau consortium. After 20 years however, it was decided to manage the Kinnaird Estate in another way and the hotel was closed.

The lots sold formed part of the original furnishings in Kinnaird House and were all inherited from Sir John and Lady Ward.

For further information please contact Lee Young
lee.young@lyonandturnbull.com