Bonhams has announced the sale of Douglas Bunn's cellar at Hickstead Place in the Fine Wine sale taking place on the 10th February at Bonhams, New Bond Street.
Hickstead Place was the home of Douglas Bunn, considered to be the most influential and innovative person in the modern development of British show-jumping.
Through the creation, in 1960, of the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead, West Sussex, Bunn raised the profile of British showjumping to international status and ensured that Britain could compete on equal terms with other leading showjumping nations.
Renowned for the challenging 10ft 6in Derby Bank, the precipitous cliff edge that Bunn described as "the supreme test for horse and rider", Hickstead has hosted nine world and European championships and currently holds two major international shows each year.
Bunn was a former international showjumper, alongside his career as a barrister- it was not unusual for him to go into court with his white riding breeches beneath striped trousers and gown!
However, through trips abroad with the British showjumping team in the late 1950s, Bunn realised that Britain was lagging behind other European countries in facilities to host top international competitions. By 1960 Bunn decided to act and Hickstead was established, creating a venue "superior to anything found elsewhere in the world" according to him.
In building the reputation and growing success of Hickstead, Bunn was also renowned for hosting lavish parties there and the the cellar is testament to Douglas Bunn's knowledge and expertise in buying fine wine.
Richard Harvey, Head of the Wine Department, comments "There are case quantities of Lafite, Mouton, Margaux, La Mission and Leoville Las Cases from the magnificent 1982 vintage, Chave Hermitage and La Chapelle 1978 and Lafon's Meursault.
But the cellar also contained a wide range of esoteric and interesting bottles which we are honoured to be able to offer for sale."
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