Alain Presencer’s passion for Tibetan and Buddhist culture began at the age of 13 in Canada, when he first started learning about Buddhism. This early curiosity grew into a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, particularly into the mystical and ritualistic aspects of Tibetan traditions.
Since the early 1970s, Alain has undertaken numerous journeys to Tibet, gaining rare access to remote lamaseries and other locations across the Himalayas and uncovering valuable insights into Tibetan spiritual and social practices, despite not speaking local dialects. Alain’s adventures and extensive research has helped to cultivate a deeper appreciation and broaden the understanding of Tibetan art and culture in the West, earning him widespread recognition, such as a Fellowship at the Royal Asiatic Society.
Beyond his academic contributions, Alain has also introduced many to the mesmerising sounds of Tibetan singing bowls; his album, The Singing Bowls of Tibet, has sold over a million copies and has over eighteen thousand monthly listeners on Spotify.
Alain has built a significant collection of Tibetan art and ritual objects over nearly 60 years of researching, understanding and sharing his wealth of knowledge. His wife Sheila has shared his passion and supported the collection’s growth over their lifetime together.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Alain and Sheila, and I am deeply grateful for the stories and knowledge he has shared with me. His passion for Tibetan culture and Buddhist art is truly inspiring, and his insights have enriched my own career in countless ways. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to present this remarkable collection, one that reflects an enduring commitment to preserving and sharing the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of Tibetan and Buddhist art.
This single owner collection will be offered at Toovey’s across two auctions on the 10th of April and 26th of June 2025.
Thomas Rowsell
Toovey’s are delighted to announce the second Sale of The Tim Harding Collection of Motoring Photographs. The collection was amassed over a lifetime of collecting by Tim Harding, a motoring historian who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of early vehicle marques.
The collection comprises photographs in all formats from full plate to ‘box brownie’. The images, well over 20,000 in number, cover the period from the very earliest days of motoring to the early post war era. Most are loose but some are framed and mounted, and there are also ‘family albums’ compiled in period.
Whilst mainly focused on cars, the collection also covers commercial vehicles, cyclecars, motorcycles, racing cars, motorsport generally, trials, rallies and racing including Brooklands. Some lots will cover period garages and workshops, motor accidents, as well as postcards of motoring interest.
These two beautiful collections represent the best of English country house taste and I am delighted that they are the subject of a series of specialist sales at Toovey’s.
Donald maintained his friendship with John Fowler and a number of pieces from John’s home, The Hunting Lodge in Odiham, form part of Donald’s collection. These include several pieces of furniture and decorative items. There is a photograph showing John Fowler in the Garden Room at The Hunting Lodge, sitting in a Louis XVI style chair which is entered in the auction. Donald Church’s unerring eye for taste, design and quality informed the interiors of his home and his collection.
