TWO GEORGE II SILK, FELT AND APPLIQU PANELS

MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

TWO GEORGE II SILK, FELT AND APPLIQU PANELS
Mid-18th Century
One depicting the Hanoverian Royal coat-of-arms with crowned lion and unicorn supporters within the Order of the Garter surmounted by a crown, the second with the coat-of-arms of William IV of Orange with lion supporters also with the Order of the Garter and surmounted by a crown, mounted within gilt-painted silk-lined canted display frames, frames incised 1756
One: 21in. (55cm.) high, 25in. (63.5cm.) wide; the other: 20in. (51cm.) high, 23in. (58cm.) wide (2)

Lot Essay

These paired coats-of-arms represent William IV of Orange, who reigned from 1747-1751 and his wife, Princess Anne (d.1759), daughter of King George II of Britain. While the couple married in 1734, the panels appear to have been enclosed in their present deep canted frames in circa 1756, the date inscribed to the tops of each and these frames were probably recessed into the walls. The purpose of these felt appliqued panels is unknown. Various alternative uses have been suggested for their original form, including their possible incorporation on the hangings of the marriage bed, kneelers from the marriage stools or cushions from a banquet.

It is interesting to note the inaccurate depiction of William IV's coat-of-arms which is represented with a Marquess's coronet (rather than a Ducal one) and inaccurately depicts the tinctures in the arms. This is probably due to the naivet of the artisan set to this task.