Raj Tolaram, who has spent his life in the interior design business, has opened an ‘extremely high end’ pop-up consignment shop and auction house on Front Street.

Called Hilgroves, it is fittingly named after his grandfather, the legendary St David’s Island entrepreneur Charles Hilgrove ‘War Baby’ Fox.

The new pop-up shop, which opened last night at a special event, saw the brown paper — which has covered the windows of the 81 Front Street premises until yesterday afternoon — removed to reveal a shop filled to overflowing with furniture, art, china, crystal, silver, jewellery and much else besides, presented in Mr Tolaram’s own trademark style: elegant, stylish yet at the same time, accessible.

Mr Tolaram, whose parents ran the Tolaram’s stores during the height of Bermuda’s tourism industry, has returned to Bermuda after an international career in interior design, and has launched several pop-ups since then.

Of this most recent venture, he explained that the items in the store are from his own collection or have been consigned for sale by his clients.

“From my perspective, when you’re keen to do something, you just have to do it!” he said. “The space inspired the opportunity at the perfect time.”

He explained: “The pieces here in the store are from my own collection over 20 years, and my clients’ collections.”

Among the items for sale is a humorous, thought provoking and beautifully executed piece of art called ‘Cookie’, an ornate painting of a monkey dressed as a king, sitting on a throne. It is in an elaborately carved fame and has a $30,000 price tag. “The painting is by Donald Roller Wilson. His work is in top museum collections around the world.”

Humour is a theme of the store. The first sale was made to visitor Judy Tarleton who bought a pair of tree frog cufflinks in gold with tiny sparkling diamond eyes. “These are the cutest things in here,” she said.

More seriously, a set of dining room chairs that appear to be Edwardian were the original set at the main house on Perot’s Island, he explained.

And a pair of Crown Staffordshire white porcelain elephants were a gift from Queen Victoria. “They are royal presentation pieces,” he explained of the decorative items which are priced at $2,500.

The most expensive piece in Hilgroves is an Asprey’s art deco jewel and gold-encrusted ivory elephant, which once belonged to a Lady Markham, who had been a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother. It is priced at $90,000.

At the other end of the scale there is a small vase available for sale which is priced at $5.

Mr Tolaram said that being in the design business meant he changed his own interiors frequently and as a result has myriad high-end pieces of all kinds.

“You’re constantly changing, but these are wonderful items,” he said.

And the shop: “Will constantly change. We have incredible collections programmed for the summer. It could be art, it could be fashion, jewellery, furnishings — anything is possible.”

Mr Tolaram also has three auctions planned so far for the summer.

“The collections are not full yet, but they will be here in the space. They will be evening auctions, with a low number of lots — the auctions will last no more than an hour and a half, two hours, and then that’s it.”

Addressing the subject of having pieces for sale at these prices at a time when Bermuda’s sluggish economy is only just starting to recover, he said: “The buyers are not just in Bermuda — this is a conduit, and a showcase, of what Bermuda has to offer.

“This is an interactive forum,” he said

“I got the space on the spur of the moment and I knew it was time to put up a collection. And you don’t know what the outcome will be — the best laid plans are subject to change as you move along.

“This idea has taken on its own life — I love it; it’s great fun!” he said.

And opening Hilgroves the week of the retail boom brought by the Newport to Bermuda Race, was serendipitous. “You never know,” he said, lifting his hands expressively and shrugging — with a big smile.