Close stool
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1675
Materials
Japanned cedar and oak, with mother of pearl
Measurements
51.5 x 57.8 x 46 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1139877
Summary
A rare close stool of chest form, of oak and cedar wood, japanned in black and gold and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The japanned decoration, partly raised, depicts landscapes with buildings and figures. At each corner there is a gilded moulding imitating a brass corner-mount. The lid opens with a brass handle fitted to a shaped back plate, on four bun feet. The handle backplate and hinges with an earl's coronet.
Provenance
Acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002.