A fine quality late Victorian burr-walnut, maple and simulated burr-maple eight-piece bedroom suite

Details

A fine quality late Victorian burr-walnut, maple and simulated burr-maple eight-piece bedroom suite
Comprising: a wardrobe, a washstand, a dressing table, a bedside cupboard, towel rack, and three occasional chairs, in the Renaissance style, inscribed with the motto NIL PENNA SED USUS, with a hand holding a pen and initials W.E.G. and J.G.C., dated 1885, the wardrobe with a dentil moulded cornice and frieze with armorial shield dated 1885, with grotesque masks, acanthus scrolls and vases of fruit and flowers, fitted with trays and three drawers enclosed by a bevelled arched mirror door between fluted columns with Ionic capitals and foliate spiral ornament and cupboards enclosed by panelled doors with bowls of fruit, grotesque masks and scrolls fitted with a deep enclosed cupboard above for hats fitted with a drawer below with lions masks and foliage; the washstand with shelved superstructure with swan neck pediment, winged serpents and columns inset with gilt glass mosaic of vases of flowers and putti, with grotesque mask supports surmounted by a moulded brocatello moulded top of breakfront outline, containing three frieze drawers in the concave kneehole recess below, between enclosed cupboards with doors dated 18 85, on a plinth base; the dressing table with swing frame mirror and lion masks with shell finial uprights between cypher frieze and enclosed cupboards with geometric mouldings, the lower part with breakfront outline with foliate edge, containing three drawers with frieze columns and enclosed cupboards dated 1885, with concave recessed kneehole below, on a plinth base; the pot cupboard with dolphin ornament and fitted with a drawer enclosed by a panelled door; the towel rack with fluted dual columns with splayed legs with claw and ball feet, with foliate finials to the stretcher below; and a set of three occasional chairs, each with shield-shaped upholstered back with swan neck top-rails, cyphers and horizontal splats, with padded seat, on foliate and reeded tapering legs
the wardrobe -- 92in. (235cm.) wide, 103in. (261.5cm.) high, 34in. (86.5cm.) deep
the washstand -- 51in. (128cm.) wide, 25in. (65cm.) deep, 62in. (157.5cm.) high
the dressing table -- 54in. (137cm.) wide, 74in. (189cm.) high, 23in. (58.5cm.) wide
the pot cupboard -- 17in. (43cm.) wide, 28in. (71.5cm.) high, 17in. (43cm.) deep
the towel rail -- 39in. (99cm.) wide, 37in. (96cm.) high, 18in. (46cm.) deep

Sale room notice

The cornice to the wardrobe, not shown in the illustration, is present

Lot Essay

The suite appeared on the B.B.C. Television Antiques Roadshow at Pickering on 9th February 1997.
It was bought by the present owners father at auction in Bradford in 1938, the catalogue saying that it cost #1,000 to make. Subsequent correspondence between the present owner and the descendants of the family for whom it was commissioned has revealed details of its original commission.
The initials WEG. and J.G.C. refer to William Ewing-Gilmour and Jessie Gertrude Campbell (3rd daughter of James Campbell of Tulliechewan, Dunbartonshire) who were married in 1882. The Gilmours were descended from a family of timber importers and shipbuilders, which in the 1840's owned the worlds largest merchant fleet. The furniture possibly came from their properties either at Woodbank or Rosehall in Sutherland.

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