The Alain Rouveure Collection of Himalayan Art

The Alain Rouveure Collection of Himalayan Art | Kinghams Cotswold Interiors & Collectables Sale | 23 April 2026

Kinghams Auctioneers are delighted with the results of the April Cotswold Interiors Sale, featuring the Alain Rouveure Collection of Himalayan Art—an exceptional and deeply personal assembly of works from Tibet and Nepal spanning the 17th to 20th century.

A didactic pictorial Indian scroll, 19th or early 20th century, Calcutta, likely illustrating the Ramayana narrative, gouache on paper and fabric, 407 by 46cm

This unique collection offered a rare opportunity to acquire pieces spanning the breadth of Himalayan life, from the domestic to the profoundly sacred. Hand-carved Mustang milk jugs alongside rarely seen high-ranking lama beds and thrones, providing an evocative window into the artistry, devotion, and daily rhythms of communities across the Himalayan region. Selected rarities from the collection have been exhibited in museums and galleries based in Paris, Venice, Milan and Switzerland.

At the heart of this collection is Alain Rouveure, a passionate collector and custodian of Himalayan cultural artefacts and lifelong advocate for Nepalese people and culture. Over decades of ongoing travel and engagement in Nepal, Alain developed a deep connection with the country and its people, assembling his collection with a focus on authenticity, preservation, and respect for cultural heritage. His work reflects not only a collector’s eye, but a humanitarian commitment to the regions and communities from which these objects originate.

In keeping with this legacy, proceeds from April’s sale of the Alain Rouveure Collection will be donated to The Alain Rouveure Nepal Fund, UK Registered Charity No 1166353. The fund is dedicated to supporting fundamental social work and community-based projects in Nepal, particularly in light of the

devastating effects of the 2015 earthquakes that communities are still battling today. Alain spends his time between Nepal and the Cotswolds, running his not-for-profit exhibition galleries in Todenham, the neighbouring village to Kinghams’ home base in Moreton-in-Marsh. For more information on the life and work of Alain, see: www.arnf.org.uk.

A wooden shrine bust mask of Bhairava, Kathmandu valley, 18th century or earlier, 50cm, d:13cm, w:31.5cm

Kinghams Auctioneers & Valuers

10-12 Cotswold Business Village London Road Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0JQ

About Kinghams Auctioneers & Valuers

Situated in Moreton-in-Marsh, on the edge of the Cotswolds, Kinghams Auctioneers is fast-progressing into an established regional fine art auction house. Founded by George Kingham, one of the country’s leading experts in twentieth-century decorative arts, we have decades of experience in the antiques and collectables market.