Overmantel
Category
Architecture / Interiors
Date
1563
Materials
Carved and turned oak
Place of origin
Westmorland (England)
Collection
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria
NT 998730
Summary
A carved oak overmantel, English, dated 1563. The central panel confined by a pair of fluted Corinthian columns with reed-carved plinths supporting a lintel topped by a dentil- and egg-and -dart carved triangular pediment. The tympanum centred by an 'antique' head and shoulders carved in very high relief between a pair of scroll-edged oval bosses inlaid 'WS' and '1563'. The frieze carved with foliated scrolls. The large central panel carved with a scroll-edged cartouche bearing quarterly of sixteen the arms of Strickland, Deincourt, Neville and Ward, supported by a stag for Ward and a bull for Neville. The arms beneath a helm and between foliated scrolls with cornucopia, perching birds and grotesque masks. The outer panels both with foliated scrolls, putti with foliated legs, cornucopia and lion masks. All between large fluted Corinthian columns on foliate scroll-carved plinths. The fireplace opening flanked by 'paneled' jambs. This is the earliest of the surviving four indigenous overmantels at Sizergh (there is a screen which has been removed from its original position dated 1558, and a fifth overmantel which was brought to Sizergh from Borwick Hall) and was probably the first installed. It is in the Old Dining Room, called the Morning Room in the 19th century, but when the 1569 inventory of Sizergh was taken, it was called the 'chamber where thei dine'. It is interesting that the first overmantel installed displayed the arms of the Stricklands; Elizabeth I's arms were not displayed until they were carved above the fireplace in the 'Queen's Room' in 1569. It is of extraordinarily high quality. The striking bust to the tympanum of the pediment appears in two other places at Sizergh. First, on the overmantel to the Queen's Room in 1569, and again on a bed - not on display - NT 998261, which is not dated, but was probably made sometime between 1563 and 1569. The triangular pediment - which is unusual for an English design of this period - appears in designs published by Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527 - c. 1607) around 1588. Too late to be the design source for the Sizergh furniture, however, inspiration may instead have come from the published designs of Cornelis Floris (1514 - 1575) or Jacques Androuet du Cerceau (1510 - 1584). Almost certainly made by immigrant Flemish craftsmen, who also worked at other houses in the area.
Provenance
Given by Henry Hornyold Strickland (1890 – 1975) with Sizergh Castle and its estates in 1950.