Finial
Nicholas Needham (fl. 1673)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
circa 1673 - 1676
Materials
Elm, paint, gilding
Measurements
76 cm (Height)
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1171027.2
Summary
A painted and parcel-gilded carved elm newel post finial, circa 1673, one of a pair, attributed to Nicholas Needham (fl. 1673), carver, and painted by Thomas Francis (fl. 1675) in 1675-6. Believed to be one of the original twenty-four finials, or twelve pairs of finials, made for a new staircase at Chirk Castle between 1673 and 1675. This finial probably modelled to represent one of the supporters of the Royal Arms of England as used by Charles II, rendered here as a unicorn sejant erect, armed, crined and unguled, gorged with a coronet composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lys a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back, and holding a vacant scroll-edged and tipped shield between its forelegs. Traces of the probably original stone colour beneath later brown paint and gilding.
Full description
Associated with Chirk Castle
Provenance
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. On loan to the Trust from Guy Charles Myddelton. Gifted to Guy C. Myddelton from Captain David Myddelton in 2010. Purchased by the National Trust from Mr Guy Myddelton in 2023.
Makers and roles
Nicholas Needham (fl. 1673), carver Thomas Francis, painter
References
Chirk Castle accounts A.D. 1666-1753 1931. Hewlings 2012, R. Hewlings, 'The Architect of Weston Park, Staffordshire' in The Georgian Group Journal, Vol. XX (2012), 22-32