CAMBRIDGE.- An important collection of European art put together by a successful businessman who helped shape fashion and the ‘look’ of mid-20th century Britain is going under the hammer at Cheffins on Thursday 13th February.

Cheffins Fine Art has been instructed to sell more than 50 Post-Impressionist paintings from the collection of the late Monty and Barbie Passes.

Monty Passes, a warm-hearted family man who died in October last year at the age of 98, was a key figure in the commercialisation of jeans in Europe. Working in collaboration with Charles and Monty Burkeman, he launched a women’s clothing manufacturing business under the label ‘Charmont’, which enjoyed phenomenal success after becoming the first and exclusive distributors of Levi jeans in Europe.

Monty also invested in a young Vidal Sassoon, backing his first two hairdressing salons before Sassoon became a globally recognised name.

Monty shared his love of art with his second wife, American actress Barbie (Barbara), who died in 2011, and this passion extended to supporting many contemporary artists and art galleries.

Among the highlights of the consignment are:

• Lot 366, a Claude Venard (French 1913-1999) oil painting ‘Nature Morte au Toit’, estimate £1,000-1,500.

• Lot 370, a Celso Lagar (Spanish 1891-1966) oil painting ‘Scene de rue, Marseille’, estimate £2,000-3,000.

• Lot 377, a Boris Ender (Russian 1893-1960) oil painting composition, estimate £1,000-1,500.

• Lot 378, a Béla Kàdàr (Hungarian 1877-1956), a gouache on board ‘Two Sisters’, estimate £1,500-£2,000.

• Lot 387, an Albert Gleizes (French 1881-1953) pencil and coloured crayons, ‘Portrait de Stravinsky’, estimate £1,500-2,000.

• Lot 395, an Abraham Mintchine (Ukrainian 1898-1931) gouache on paper laid to card, ‘Salut’, estimate £1,000-1,500

Brett Tryner, director at Cheffins Fine Art, said: “Monty and Barbie Passes had a sharp and discerning eye for paintings, and this is reflected in the impressive Collection being offered for sale in February.”