Sedan chair
Griffin & Co.
Category
Carriages & other vehicles
Date
circa 1803
Materials
Wood frame with leather panels and silk upholstery.
Measurements
160 x 92.5 x 75.5cm (5ft 3in x 3ft 1/2in x 2ft 5 3/4in)
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 850203.1
Caption
This sedan chair is one of two almost identical sedans at Ickworth House. It is said to have belonged to the 1st Earl's second wife, Elizabeth Felton, who is reported to have died in it while being carried through St James's Park in May 1741.
Summary
Sedan chair built circa 1803, almost certainly built by William Griffin (junior) of Coventry Street, London. Sedan chair of the Westminster style with an arched roof. The panels are of leather with the upholstery being of white silk. The exterior furniture is of chased brass. A cypher, EH, for Elizabeth Hervey (1773-1844) is on the rear panel. Carved painted Baron’s coronet on the roof.
Full description
Sedan chair in the Westminster style with an arched roof, highly polished japanned leather panels and stamped brass ornamentation. The interior is upholstered with white silk. Said to have belonged to the 1st Earl's second wife, Elizabeth Felton, who is reported to have died in it while being carried through St James's Park in May 1741. This is one of six arch-roof chairs in the care of the National Trust. Its ornamentation typically dates from the close of the arch-roof middle period c.1790 to 1805. This sedan is a good example of the standard product built by the Royal Warrant Sedan Chair Makers in Westminster, London (the popular neo-classical ornamentation was chosen from a wide selection of standard patterns). Many of these designs were first popularised by the architect and designer Robert Adam. From the time of George I the Westminster English sedan chair is almost unique in Europe for having sides which taper inwards by up to two inches. This design allows rainwater running off of the roof to miss the window apertures. It also makes life easier for the rear chairman when negotiating narrow doorways as the roof (instead of the pole lugs) becomes the widest part of the sedan.
Provenance
Part of the Bristol Collection. Acquired by the National Trust in 1956 under the auspices of the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Countess of Bristol, to build a ladies elegant fashionable sedan chair. Japanned and highly polished panels, mounted with plain borders all round, fancy pattern to elbow band and roof valance. Inside lin’d with rich white silk, door pocket, festoon curtains and fringe, corner tassels, cypher EAB in mantle and coronet to rear, carved coronet and cushion on roof, varnished poles and straps, green baize cover. Price c. 47 guineas. A description of the dress of Duchess Elizabeth Cavendish, nee Hervey 1759-1824 (daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol), her sedan chair c1809 and her footman’s attire is described in The London ‘Morning Post’ of Saturday 14th April 1810 under the heading Her Majesty’s Drawing Room.
Marks and inscriptions
On rear panel: EAB Elizabeth Albana countess of Bristol (1775-1844)
Makers and roles
Griffin & Co., maker