Tester bed
Category
Textiles
Date
circa 1760
Materials
Mahogany, Gilt, Silk, Velvet, Oak
Measurements
300 cm (H); 185 cm (W); 203 cm (D)
Place of origin
Ireland
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1181055
Summary
A mahogany and parcel gilt tester bedstead, English or Irish, circa 1760. With Spitalfields red cut velvet hangings. The tester with a cornice carved with gadrooning and stylised floral scroll crests to the corners and front section, raised on reeded front columns with carved feather and guilloche beaded collars, the mattress raised on fluted rails and hairy lion's paw feet with applied scallop shell carving to the corners. The head board carved with the gadrooned and floral crest and the canopy with a carved guilloche framed oval panel.
Full description
The design of this bed with the scallop shell carving and hairy lion's paw feet follows documented examples of Irish furniture made during the 18th century. A comparable example, albeit far less ornate in its design, is in the National Trust Collection at Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh (NT 630650) and illustrated in The Knight of Glin's 'Irish Furniture' pg.90. Another example illustrated in Macquoid 'A History of English furniture' vol.3 pg.85. The scallop shell and hairy foot were common design details on Irish furniture and numerous examples are documented but are not exclusive and can be found on English furniture of the same period. (James Weedon, March 2019)
Provenance
Part of the indigenous collection of Powis Castle accepted in part satisfaction of the Estate duty after the death of the Right Honourable George Charles, 4th Earl of Powis, on 9th November 1952. The contract of the 'Offer of Property in Satisfaction of Estate Duty under the National Land Fund Scheme' was completed on 21st March 1963. Conveyed to National Trust ownership in 1992.
References
Glin, 1997: Knight of Glin. “Irish furniture at Florence Court.” Apollo April (1997): pp.16-20. Macquoid, Percy, d.1905. history of English furniture / 1904-1908.