A huge collection of “beautiful and unusual” antiques which belonged to a celebrated Kent goldsmith goes under the hammer next month.

The eclectic mix was accumulated by Polly Coburn over her lifetime, with 300 lots coming from her grand Ramsgate home which overlooks the harbour.

The artist and interior decorator died in 2021 aged 70 and now her impressive Victorian house is on the market for £1.35 million, while much of its contents are being sold through the Canterbury Auction Galleries.

The sale features art, porcelain, glass and silver and contemporary furniture, with most items handpicked for her previous homes in Scotland and Canterbury as well her last property in Ramsgate.

They include a hand-made 22-carat gold mug by George Lukes estimated to be worth between £5,000 and £6,000, pieces crafted by furniture designer Michael Westgate, hand-painted porcelain by Stefan Nowacki, life-size silver pheasants by Tim Lukes, estimated to be worth between £4,000 and £5,000, and a collection of contemporary caddy spoons by various members of the Goldsmiths Company.

Both the house and its treasures, now in the care of the auction house, shine a light on their previous owner’s extraordinary life.

Mrs Coburn was born in Kenya and came to England to follow her passion to train as a goldsmith, inspired by her silversmith grandfather, Alfred Gasston.

A brief early marriage ended in divorce, but then she met and married Mike Coburn, a self-made man and huge character who raced motorbikes, flew planes and ended up creating commercial property empire The Milton Group.

For most of their time together they lived between Milton Manor at Thanington, near Canterbury, and Logan Estate in Scotland.

Mrs Coburn ran a successful soft furnishing company in Canterbury and she transformed the interiors of both her homes at Milton and Logan.

She planted Milton Manor’s 22 acres with trees, and maintained and nurtured the long-established Logan gardens.

Her husband died in 2001, aged 65, and in 2012 Mrs Coburn bought Harbour House and was joined by her sister, Philippa and their elderly mother, who lived until she was 100.

In 2007, she decided to go back to the bench and be a goldsmith again, starting a company with Philippa called Polly Gasston Goldsmith.

After her death, Philippa continued the business now called Polly Gasston Jewellery.

Throughout her life, Mrs Coburn accumulated a wealth of knowledge spanning history, ancient civilisations, literature and music as well as art.

Her “impeccable taste” and love for the interesting and unusual will show throughout the auction, which also includes some of her own paintings.

“She was quite eccentric, ridiculously kind, extremely clever and very funny. Hers was a life very well lived,” says Phillipa.

The Polly Coburn Collection goes under the hammer at the Canterbury Auction Galleries on Monday, February 17.

The other sale days are Thursday and Friday, February 13 and 14.

To bid or attend a viewing day, register at www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com, where the online catalogue can be viewed.