For 50 of those years, from 1936-85, he lived and traded from an imposing stone-fronted house in Burford, Oxfordshire, and after that closed he decamped across the road to fill his home with the remains of his stock and his personal collection.
This was the fruit of many of the famous country house sales of the last century and numerous legendary buying trips up and down the country. The result was an Aladdin's cave that encompassed vernacular furniture, period textiles, early pottery, folk art, children's toys and much more.
The flavour of this fascinating career was recorded in his memoirs published in 2003 by the Regional Furniture Society, but there is a tangible legacy in the richly varied assemblage that his family are selling at auction in London and the country over the next few months.
The more expensive material will be offered at Christie's South Kensington next week on January 20 and 21, with 640 lots that reflect his many collecting enthusiasms.
Then Brightwells of Leominster will hold a further three Warner offerings with books, toys and ephemera on February 4, garden furnishings on February 25 and a more general mix on April 8.
By Anne Crane
