Bone inlay picture
W. Roberts
Category
Ivory and bone
Date
1858
Materials
Wood and bone
Measurements
1015 mm (H)945 mm (W)55 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1171011
Caption
This striking piece of folk art, with its border of oak leaves, shows a view of Chirk Castle in Wrexham. It was presented to the Myddleton family at Chirk by William Roberts (c.1801–78), the porter at Ruthin Castle in Denbighshire, another family property. The unusual picture was made by inlaying ebonised oak with delicate slivers of bone, and is modelled on an engraving from 1735, showing Chirk’s magnificent wrought-iron gates in their original position. Relatively little is known about Roberts, although census records reveal he was a gentleman’s servant before he became castle porter. He was clearly a skilled craftsman, and his other known works include inlaid tables and pairs of fire screens depicting Welsh properties, one of which survives at Charlecote Park in Warwickshire (NT 532997). Roberts gave this personalised picture to Fanny Mostyn Owen (c.1810–87), wife of Colonel Robert Myddleton Biddulph (1805–72), in 1861. It is still displayed in the Gothic Revival Cromwell Hall at Chirk today.
Summary
Rare bone inlay picture of Chirk Castle by the Porter, Roberts, 1858, after W.H. Toms' engraving of the NE prospect of the castle dated 1735, set in a border of continuous oak leaf and acorn garlands, the 4 corner reserves with hand and wolf motifs, the 'frame' shaped, the cresting inlaid with hand, wolf and coat of arms motifs. RUTHIN CASTLE 1858' and 'PRESENTED TO MRS R M BIDDULPH CHIRK CASTLE BY W.ROBERTS 1861' Two tree trunks, 1 piece bone edging and 1 ball.
Full description
This beautiful picture of Chirk Castle is copied from an engraving of Thomas Badeslade’s North-East Prospect of Chirk Castle (1735), showing the castle gates in their original position. The inlaid description on the front and carved note on the reverse record the artist as W. Roberts, the Porter at Ruthin Castle (another property owned by the family), in 1858. Relatively little is known about William Roberts. The 1851 Wales Census is the first to show him as porter at Castle Lodge, Ruthin. He is described as ‘Servant, Porter’ aged 49, born in St Martins (near Oswestry). He is living with his wife Anne (aged 47) and three children. In the 1861 Census he is described as ‘formerly gentleman’s servant, lodge keeper’, living at Castle Lodge Ruthin. The family last appear in Castle Lodge in the 1871 Census. Other surviving works by Roberts worked in ebonised oak and bone typically depict Welsh castles or historic houses. They include a pair of fire screens on poles depicting Wynnstay and Bodelwyddan at Charlecote Park in Warwickshire (see NT 532997). These probably came to Charlecote following the marriage of North Wales heiress, Mary Elizabeth Williams to George Lucy in 1823. Another pair of occasional tables/screens made in 1868 by Roberts – also depicting Wynnstay and Bodelwyddan - were sold at auction in 2001. Research by Ruthin Local History Society suggests Roberts also made a coat of arms for the Mayor and Corporation of Ruthin in 1862, marking the connection of Ruthin to the Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway. It was ‘made from black oak inlaid with bone’ which ‘depicted three castle, leeks, goats and the plume of feathers over the inscription "Ye Armes of ye Towne and Corporation of Rhuthyne, 1282." Another example of his work, a view of Ruthin church, is recorded at Hartsheath, Pontblyddyn.
Provenance
Previously amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust. Acceptance in lieu, 1999.
Marks and inscriptions
DONE BY W.ROBERTS THE PORTER (verso) and PRESENTED TO MRS R M BIDDULPH CHIRK CASTLE BY W.ROBERTS 1861 (verso)
Makers and roles
W. Roberts, artist