State bed
Category
Furniture
Date
1740 - 1901
Materials
Wood and velvet.
Measurements
855 x 2020 mm; 2360 mm (Length)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Treasurer's House, North Yorkshire
NT 592805
Summary
State bed covered in faded green velvet with coronet and arms of Alexandra, Princess of Wales, and carved and gilded acanthus brackets at the corners and lined with gold-coloured damask . The whole ensemble comprises: Tester (greatly worn), covered in green velvet with carved and gilded acanthus brackets at the corners and lined with gold-coloured damask; Headcloth of faded green velvet overlaid with tassled fringes hung in hoops and coronet applied; Headboard of faded green velvet overlaid with tassled fringes hung in loops and bearing arms of Alexandra, Princess of Wales; Pair of curtains in faded green velvet with tassled fringes (practically no velvet pile left); Bed frame; Base valance in three parts of faded green velvet with gold braid -very worn; Box spring mattress; Hair overlay; and a Feather bolster.
Provenance
1901 and 1902 photographs show a simpler four post bed in this room, so it is likely that this bed was acquired by Frank Green as a grander replacement between then and 1906 when it is noted in the house guidebook as,"from a house in the Eastern counties, by Kent, cornice and upholstery is partly reproduced" (see guidebooks 1906, 1908, 1910, 1930). The pre-1930 inventory for the house has a note stating, "From Houghton Hall. Norfolk" and this is repeated in the 1930 inventory (at the time of gift to the National Trust). Given by Frank Green (1861-1954) along with house, garden and contents to the National Trust in 1930.