Lord Derwenter's Chair
An oak open armchair, the arched toprail carved with the Ratcliffe coronet and coat-of-arms, with arcaded panelled back carved with interlaced geometric foliage and flowerheads, with moulded arm-supports and solid seat, with shaped apron and baluster legs joined by stretchers, with paper label My Lady's Chair, so called from having belonged to Anna Maria Webb, Countess of Derwentwater, who died at Brussels, Aug. 30 1723..., wife of James Ratcliffe, Earl of Derwentwater, beheaded at the Tower, Feb. 23rd 1715, see account of it in Memorials of James Earl of Derwentwater, collected by Henry Howard, given Xmas 1844 to Philip H. Howard by his affectionate wife, Eliza M. Howard, later parts, Lake District, late 17th/early 18th century.
Details
An oak open armchair, the arched toprail carved with the Ratcliffe coronet and coat-of-arms, with arcaded panelled back carved with interlaced geometric foliage and flowerheads, with moulded arm-supports and solid seat, with shaped apron and baluster legs joined by stretchers, with paper label My Lady's Chair, so called from having belonged to Anna Maria Webb, Countess of Derwentwater, who died at Brussels, Aug. 30 1723..., wife of James Ratcliffe, Earl of Derwentwater, beheaded at the Tower, Feb. 23rd 1715, see account of it in Memorials of James Earl of Derwentwater, collected by Henry Howard, given Xmas 1844 to Philip H. Howard by his affectionate wife, Eliza M. Howard, later parts, Lake District, late 17th/early 18th century.
Provenance
Charles Radclyffe, third Earl of Derwentwater was one of the most romantic Jacobite figures. His family was of ancient lineage and his father was created Viscount Radclyffe and Earl of Derwentwater in 1688 by James II. His father married Lady Mary Tudor, a natural daughter of Charles II. Their son Charles was brought up at the exiled Stuart Court as companion to Prince James Edward. in 1710 he took up residence at Dilston Hall, his chief seat, and joined without hesitation or reflection the 1715 Rebellion. When the rebels (unwisely) capitulated at Preston, the Earl was taken to the Tower of London, impeached, attainted, and condemned to death. Strenuous efforts to obtain a pardon were thwarted by George I and Walpole (the latter benefited from the confiscation of the extensive Derwentwater estates) and the Earl was beheaded on Tower Hill on 24th February 1716. On the scaffold he declared his devotion to the Roman Catholic faith and James III. The popularity of the gallant Earl, his noble bearing and the dignified acceptance of his sad fate ensured his revered memory. The Aurora Borealis shone with exceptional brightness on the night of execution and thus is known in Cumberland as 'Lord Derwentwater's lights'.