Eclectic artefacts amassed on ‘a modern grand tour' will be sold at Christie's South Kensington on October 9, when James Perkins, owner of Aynhoe Park, sells more than 350 items to make room for more pieces in his constantly evolving collection. There's everything from an armadillo-shell helmet (estimated at £600-£900) to a stuffed walrus head, plus furniture and photography, but pride of sale is the magnificent Classical plaster sculpture.
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Mr Perkins's fascination with sculpture began when he was 15 and saw a newly cast bust of Apollo being drawn from its mould in a restorer's workshop in Cheltenham. He saved up his pocket money, and the bust became the first piece in his collection, which includes 12 sections from the Parthenon frieze, attributed to Brucciani & Co (£6,000-£9,000). Viewing days are at Aynhoe Park, Aynho, Oxfordshire, on October 5-8 (www.christies.com).
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Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
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