The catalogue for the auction, which is called Tales of the Unexpected, is now live online and features a wide range of furniture, works of art, sculpture and design from a variety of cultures and periods.
Estimates for individual lots range from £300 to £100,000, with the collection as a whole expected to raise in the region of £1m.
The sale takes place as Petrou and his wife Leonora step back from exhibiting at art fairs and concentrate on their existing client base.
Established in London for more than 40 years, the dealership regularly took stands at fairs such as The Winter Show in New York as well as Grosvenor House, Masterpiece and PAD in London.
Petrou said: “We have some fantastic clients, including museums and younger buyers building collections, which make up at least half our business. For us it’s better to redirect our efforts towards our existing clients rather than our shows which we have held at least once a year.”
He added: “We have been asked by a number of our young collectors who are well under 40 for our assistance in building diverse collections. So by not exhibiting at fairs it gives us the opportunity to concentrate on this area.”
The sale at Christie’s is conceived as a version of one of their exhibitions, bringing together a wealth of different objects at a variety of price points.
Among the expected top lots is a royal Indo-Portuguese ivory-inlaid Indian rosewood and padouk cabinet on stand, which has an estimate of £70,000-100,000. It has provenance to Queen Maria de Gloria II of Portugal and the Algarves (1819-1853).
Christie’s head of sale Benedict Winter said: “We are thrilled to offer the collection of Peter Petrou, whose infectious taste has delighted clients for over 40 years with his diverse, and at times eccentric, take on human history.”
The viewing for the auction takes place at Christie’s King Street from January 14-18 and 25-29.
Two copper alloy models of birds from central or south India dating from the late 18th/early 19th century. Offered as a pair at Christie’s sale of the Peter Petrou collection, they are estimated at £3000-5000.
