The skeleton of a pygmy hippo (estimated at £10,000- £15,000), a pair of 18in Thomas Malby library globes (£60,000-£80,000) and a painting of an extremely fat heifer are surely the must-have items for any discerning gentleman's lair. These are among the more eclectic lots in Bonhams's Gentleman's Library sale in Knightsbridge, London SW7, on January 29-30.
* Country Life New Year subscriptions sale
There is also a George III kneehole desk (£2,000-£3,000) which reputedly belonged to Sir Alexander Dixon, a soldier held in high esteem for his part in the Napoleonic and Peninsular Wars by the Duke of Wellington, and is being sold by a descendant, plus crocodile-leather cases, a whale-tooth inkwell frame, a horn snuff mull, a snake cigar lighter, a rhino-horn walking stick, a bust of Gladstone and much, much more (www.bonhams.com).
* Follow Country Life magazine on Twitter
-
Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
-
Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
