Pair of marquetry inlaid mirrors
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1690 - 1700
Materials
Princeswood, holly, oak, deal, mirrored glass
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Beningbrough Hall, North Yorkshire
NT 1190825
Summary
A pair of marquetry inlaid princeswood wall mirrors, English, circa 1690-1700. Each with a pierced fret work crest inlaid with arabesque or 'seaweed' marquetry panels above a cushion moulded frame with conforming marquetry and a bevelled mirror plate. One plate contemporary, the other a later replacement.
Full description
A pair of side tables (NT 1190824) display a very similar style of marquetry, also inlaid on princeswood they are almost certainly by the same workshop and supplied together. The 'suite' is of fine quality, emphasised by the use of princeswood and the high quality marquetry panels, the carved fret work to the mirror cresting is of particular note. Illustrated by Bowett in English Furniture 1660-1714 pl.9:9. (James Weedon, October 2017)
Provenance
This pair of mirrors (and matching set of two side tables) were previously in the drawing room of Holme Lacy, the inherited house sold by Lord Chesterfield in 1910 (see sale catalogue, lots 583-584 & associated photographs, p44). All are recorded in the Hereford Times (5.2.1910) as having been purchased bya Mr Lee for 580 gns. Either they were purchased back by Lady Chesterfield or else Mr Lee was acting as an agent for the Chesterfields as they later reappeared at Beningbrough (which was purchased by Lady Chesterfield in 1917); see Country Life: 'Furniture at Beningbrough Hall by M.Jourdain (3.12.1927). Beningbrough Hall was given to the National Trust in 1958 in lieu of death duties by the heirs of the Countess of Chesterfield and the contents were sold off. A small number of items were purchased for retention in the hall, including these mirrors and side tables. See 1958 Auction Catalogue (lots 730 & 729) and Ministry of Works "Schedule of objects given to the National Trust for preservation at Beningbrough Hall".
References
Bowett 2002: Adam Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714, 2002, pl.9:9