Tester bed
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1760 (the bed; the hangings early 18th century)
Materials
Pine, Elm, Mahogany, Linen, Wool, Cotton
Measurements
213 cm (Length); 213 cm (Length); 164 cm (Length); 198 cm (Length); 210 cm (Length); 187 cm (Length); 565 cm (Length); 200 cm (Length); 128 cm (W); 128 cm (W); 273 cm (W); 182 cm (W); 165 cm (W); 33 cm (D); 20 cm (D)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1127885
Summary
A mahogany tester bed, English, circa 1760, upholstered in crewel-work of the early 18th century. The bed with mahogany foot posts, carved as clustered columns of five colonettes, tied at the centre and carved with acanthus at top and bottom, above a husk-carved and fluted baluster. With elm side rails, head posts and pine slats. The canopy domed to the centre of each end. On wooden castors. The fabric white linen twill embroidered with coloured wools in a bold floral design. The pattern of vertical twisting stems with various leaves, hollyholck, trefoil and palmate types in shade of green and blue. Worked in stem, buttonhole, double-back, brick, chain, detached chain and speckling stitches. With a green glazed cotton lining. According to Santina M. Levey, these hangings were altered in the late 19th century, when, for instance, the tabs to the upper valances were added. A worked bed was listed in the Lawn Room in the inventories of 1764, 1792 and 1811.
Provenance
By descent until, following the death of Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895 - 1950), Hardwick Hall and its contents were accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death duties and transferred to the National Trust, in 1959.
References
Levey, 1998: Santina M. Levey, An Elizabethan inheritance: the Hardwick Hall textiles. London: National Trust, 1998., p. 88, Figure 85 Westman, Annabel, 'Snug at the Hall': Beds and Canopies and the 6th Duke', in Hardwick Hall: A Great Castle of Old Romance (2016), 281