A former ‘Bond girl’ who went on to become a world renowned interior and garden designer is set to sell the contents of her family home.
Anouska Hempel, 81, starred in the 1969 Bond classic On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, where she played an angel of death.
The movie was one of 12 she starred or featured in between 1969 and 1979.
When it comes to her design career, among her highlights, Anouska was ranked by Architectural Digest as one of the top 100 interior designers and architects in the world in 2002.
Among her highly renowned creations, Anouska established four hotels.
Anouska Hempel’s former residence, the 18th-century Grade II-listed Shaw House, was sold for around £3.3 million last August
Following the sale of the residence, the contents of the home will be going under the hammer next month
A highly-regarded interior designer, Anouska’s trademark style can be seen throughout the home
Among the items that will be up for auction from the 18-century house are pieces of furniture and artwork
As well as her highly successful career in design, Anouska worked as an actor, appearing in 1969 Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (pictured L-R: Ingrid Back, Angela Scoular, George Lazenby, Jenny Hanley, Anouska Hempel and Mona Chong)
She is known for her landmark designs of London’s first five-star boutique hotel Blakes in South Kensington in 1978.
In 2022, the designer was presented with the prestigious Andrew Martin Lifetime Achievement Award by HRH Princess Michael of Kent.
The honour was given to her for ‘her elusive, impossible to define but instantly recognisable design.’
Among her design touches, Anouska is noted for her use of architectural effects.
These include her play on perspective, use of dramatic colours emulating various periods and styles, and her use of textural fabrics.
This recognisable design is certainly evident in her former residence, the 18th-century Grade II-listed Shaw House, at Shaw, near Melksham, Wiltshire.
The property was sold for around £3.3 million last August.
Following the sale of the property, an auction for the residence’s furniture will take place next month at Dreweatts Auctioneers & Valuers.
The grade II listed home (pictured) in Wiltshire, was the family home of actor and renowned designer Anouska Hempel
The home is set in around six acres of land (pictured: the garden of grade-II listed Shaw House in Wiltshire)
The actor and designer’s trademark style has been described as ‘impossible to define but instantly recognisable’
SOLD: The 18th-century Grade II-listed Shaw House was sold for around £3.3 million last August
According to the auction house hosting next month’s sale, ‘Anouska Hempel…has an iconic aesthetic characterised by bold pattern, fascinating objects and an innate sensibility for the atmosphere within an interior’
The auction house added that it is ‘proud to be offering this collection which stands as a record of her impeccable eye and offers buyers an opportunity to capture works that are ‘AH approved’
The use of colour in Anouska’s design work has been noted as a key facet of her style, which has been praised by many
Anouska will be selling the contents of her family home: amid the pieces that will be on offer are these lamps
Some of the highlights of the auction include a carved marble possibly Roman-era portrait head of Polideuce made as early as 170-177AD, estimated to fetch £3,000-£5,000.
An etching with drypoint and aquatint titled ‘Can-Can’ by the legendary French artist Louis Icart (188-1950) is also estimated to fetch £5,000-£7,000.
Other items include a walnut and Italian marble topped centre table estimated at £1,000-£1,500, and a French printed ten-fold screen from the second half of the 19th century estimated at £400-£600.
A pair of contemporary kilim upholstered chairs are estimated to fetch £700-£1,000.
DESIGN: In 2022, Anouska was presented with the prestigious Andrew Martin Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her design talent
Anouska’s design work has been praised for its play on perspective and use of dramatic colours emulating various periods and styles
Her work is so respected, that she was ranked by Architectural Digest as one of the top 100 interior designers and architects in the world in 2002
Among the pieces of furniture from the house that will be on offer at the auction is this pair of chairs
Among the artworks is a 17th century oil painting titled Portrait of a Young Girl with a Lamb (English School), which has an estimate of £3,000-£5,000.
Another oil portrait titled Portrait of a Boy and Girl is by the Royal Academy-trained British portrait artist George Spencer Watson (1869-1934).
It carries an estimated value of £8,000-£12,000.
Joe Robinson, Dreweatts’ Head of House Sales & Collections, said: ‘Anouska Hempel, a doyen of English interior design, has an iconic aesthetic characterised by bold pattern, fascinating objects and an innate sensibility for the atmosphere within an interior.
‘Dreweatts are proud to be offering this collection which stands as a record of her impeccable eye and offers buyers an opportunity to capture works that are ‘AH approved’.’
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