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1 of 253523 objects
Sofa 1828
Carved and gilded mahogany, silk damask | 124.5 x 229.9 x 97.8 cm (whole object) | RCIN 31311
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A set of five sofas of carved and gilded mahogany; each with straight back, slightly bowed front and filled in sides. Top rail carved with laurel torus and foliate scrolls. Armrests terminate in lions' heads. Supported on lions' paw feet at front. Four upholstered in crimson silk damask, one in green silk damask.
These sofas form part of a very extensive suite of seat furniture made for George IV's new private apartments at Windsor Castle. Originally consisting of fifty-six pieces (twelve sofas, sixteen armchairs and twenty-eight side chairs), the suite was divided between the Crimson Drawing Room and the Small or White Drawing Room and cost the enormous sum of £13,886 (not including the material for the upholstery). By 1830, a number of pieces from both rooms had been removed to the State Apartments or to store, owing to lack of space. Some of the excess pieces were used to complete the refurnishing of Buckingham Palace in the 1830s and1840s.
The French inspiration for the design of the suite, points clearly to the influence of F.H.G. Jacob-Desmalter. One of the leading furniture-makers of the First Empire, Jacob-Desmalter was invited over from Paris, probably in 1826, to assist Morel in designing furniture for the Windsor project.
The pieces for the Crimson Drawing Room were originally upholstered en suite with the walls and curtains in an expensive poppy-coloured striped velvet supplied by the mercer W.E. King. The velvet was replaced in 1869 with a crimson silk brocatelle of the same pattern which in turn was changed by Queen Mary in the early twentieth century to a bold Italianate design in pink silk. Following the fire of 1992, the upholstery (including curtains and wall-hangings) was changed back to crimson silk in the original striped pattern.
Catalogue entry adapted from Royal Treasures, A Golden Jubilee Celebration, London 2002Provenance
Part of the group of furniture and furnishings supplied between 1827 and 1829 to King George IV by the partnership of Morel and Seddon for the Large Drawing Room (now the Crimson Drawing Room) and the Small Drawing Room (now the White Drawing Room). Nicholas Morel had formerly worked for The Prince of Wales, later George IV, at Carlton House and the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. Subsequently, he was commissioned to design and furnish the newly built apartments designed by Sir Jeffry Wyattville (1766-1840) for the King at Windsor Castle. In order to fulfil the contract he entered into partnership with George Seddon III whose family had large and long established furniture workshops in Aldersgate Street in the City of London.
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Creator(s)
(furniture maker)(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Carved and gilded mahogany, silk damask
Measurements
124.5 x 229.9 x 97.8 cm (whole object)
Other number(s)
M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 54M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 55M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 192M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 193M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 194M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 195M&S : Roberts, H., 2001. For the King's Pleasure: George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London – M&S 196