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18 Jun

Posted at 16:55h in

A George II giltwood side table with a massive verde antico veneered marble slab.   83.8 x 177.8 x 88.9 cm   The frieze carved with entrelac-and-rosette edged with egg-and-dart ornament centred by a shell framed by later scrolls and standing on hairy lions' paw legs. The table has been extended and widened in the past. It may originally have been a stand for a cabinet. The back stretcher bears the trade label of 'Weaver, 46 Wardour St. Soho' (Alfred Weaver is listed as...

18 Jun

Posted at 15:31h in

The giltwood throne and footstool of King George IV supplied for the Enthronement and Presentation of the Regalia and the Coronation banquet at Westminster Hall on July 19th 1821.   George IV was known for his extravagance and lavish lifestyle. His coronation in 1821 cost in the region of £240,000 (almost £27 million in today's money). By contrast, his father's coronation in 1761 had cost around £10,000. The throne is covered in its original crimson velvet with metal-thread braid surmounted by the Royal...

10 May

Posted at 15:54h in

A Louis XVI ormolu-mounted ebony and camomile lacquer commode attributed to Joseph Baumhauer, called 'Joseph, maître'.   circa 1767 86 x 151 x 68 cm The commode having a grey marble top and two doors mounted with camomile lacquer panels, decorated with polychrome figures and buildings, mounted with gilt-bronze rams' masks and enclosing three drawers, veneered with tulipwood and bordered with amaranth, stamped 'JME'. This was the stamp of the juré (elected officer) of the guild. Edward Holmes Baldock, a dealer in French furniture of...

10 May

Posted at 12:17h in

An early 18th-century rosewood and parcel-gilt pedestal table on which Queen Victoria signed her Coronation Oath on 28th June, 1838.   73.66 cm wide x 91 cm high   The rectangular top has a brass plaque inscribed 'On this table Queen Victoria signed her Coronation oath, June 28th 1838' and retains its original crimson velvet cover with silver fringe. This table was acquired by the 22nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby, who was Lord Great Chamberlain for the reign of Queen Victoria, as a perquisite of his...

10 May

Posted at 11:30h in

A set of fourteen George II oak hall chairs, painted in grisaille and colours with the arms and Ducal coronet of Peregrine, 2nd Duke of Ancaster (1686-1742) and his wife, Jane Brownlow (1689-1736).   English, early 18th Century.   The backs are decorated with a coat of arms (showing Bertie quartering Winn, Ufford and Willoughby, with an inescutcheon for Brownlow) under a ducal coronet, held by supporters (a friar and a wild man). On the seat are the initials 'P, J and B' and...

09 May

Posted at 17:29h in

A pair of George II mahogany and parcel gilt side chairs, attributed to Wright and Elwick.   English, circa 1750   Each with a pierced ribbon-scrolled back, surmounted by a Chinese pagoda. The frames are richly carved with scrolling acanthus and flower heads, cartouche and shell-feather motifs and Chinese fretwork. The upholstered seats still have their original fine floral needlework covers. They were probably supplied to Peregrine, 3rd Duke of Ancaster (1714-1778) for Grimsthorpe Castle and were originally part of a set of six chairs...

07 May

Posted at 16:42h in

A set of six George II giltwood wall-lights with six pendant giltwood drops carved with fruit and flowers.   The lyre-shaped backplates are centred by lion-masks, each supporting four serpent branches, now fitted for electricity. These were purchased from the temporary House of Lords in 1847, after fire had ravaged the old Palace of Westminster in 1834.    ...

07 May

Posted at 10:20h in

A Regency gilded mahogany open armchair and footstool supplied by Russell, Valance & Evans in 1820 for Queen Caroline's use as a resting chair at her trial in the House of Lords in 1820.   'A Handsome carved Grecian Chair gilt in burnished Gold for the Use of the Queen at the Throne end of the House (£12.13s.) and a gilt footstool with lions paw feet (£3.3s.)'. It was covered with scarlet cloth by Elliott & Francis.  ...

03 May

Posted at 13:39h in

The crimson velvet lambrequin pelmet and backboard, which now form the hangings of this half-tester bed, are from the canopy in Westminster Hall used at King George IV's Coronation in 1821.   The pelmet is embroidered in metal thread with the monogram of George IV, framed by the lion of England, the harp of Ireland and the thistle of Scotland, and the backboard with the monogram below a crown. The Gothic giltwood and papier-mâché throne canopy was supplied by C.F. Bielefeld for the...

03 May

Posted at 12:46h in

A 17th century Antwerp gilt-bronze-mounted ebony and tortoiseshell cabinet, inlaid with polychrome panels and mother-of-pearl.   The arcaded central cupboard doors open to reveal a classical interior with a painted landscape background. The stand is of ornately carved and gilded wood with eagles at each corner....