A PAIR OF GEORGE II GILTWOOD DOLPHIN-FORM WALL CARVINGS

MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF GEORGE II GILTWOOD DOLPHIN-FORM WALL CARVINGS
MID-18TH CENTURY
EACH GRIMACING DOLPHIN WITH UPRIGHT SCROLLING TAIL
32IN. (81.6CM.) HIGH, 8IN. (20.5CM.) WIDE (2)

Provenance

POSSIBLY PURCHASED BY NANCY LANCASTER (THE FIRST MRS. RONALD TREE) FOR DITCHLEY PARK, OXFORDSHIRE AND THEREAFTER REMOVED TO THE NEW YORK APARTMENT OF RONALD TREE AND HIS SECOND WIFE, MARIETTA TREE, WITH THE SALE OF DITCHLEY IN 1947.
THE ESTATE OF MARIETTA TREE, SOLD IN THESE ROOMS, 17 OCTOBER 1992, LOT 113 ($18,700).

Lot Essay

THESE DOLPHINS ONCE ADORNED THE SUTTON PLACE APARTMENT OF MARIETTA TREE, WHOSE GRACIOUS PERSONALITY AND CIVIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE CELEBRATED BY NEW YORK SOCIETY. IN 1946, SHE MARRIED HER SECOND HUSBAND, RONALD TREE, WHO HAD PURCHASED ONE OF ENGLAND'S GREATEST COUNTRY HOUSES, DICHLEY PARK IN OXFORDSHIRE, FURNISHING IT WITH HIS FIRST WIFE, NANCY LANCASTER, AN INFLUENTIAL FORCE IN COUNTRY HOUSE DESIGN AND PARTNER WITH JOHN FOWLER AT COLEFAX AND FOWLER. THESE DOLPHINS MAY HAVE FORMED PART OF THE INTERIORS AT DITCHLEY. MANY OF ITS CONTENTS WERE REMOVED TO NEW YORK WHEN THE COUPLE SOLD THE HOUSE SHORTLY AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE IN 1947.

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