PROPERTY OF A NEW YORK COLLECTOR

AN EARLY VICTORIAN POLYCHROME-DECORATED BIRDCAGE IN THE FORM OF A GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE

DATED 1843

細節

AN EARLY VICTORIAN POLYCHROME-DECORATED BIRDCAGE IN THE FORM OF A GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE
Dated 1843
Of three bay design in red brick and stone coining, with arched pediment, dormer windows and four chimney stacks, the dentil-molded portico with three steps leading to the panelled front door, fronted by a scrolled balustrade, the reverse with hinged slatted doors, also decorated to simulate brick, with five wire mesh inset windows to each side, raised on brass casters, decoration refreshed probably in 1903, bearing three labels in one hand Erected/Dec. 15, 1843, and Directions/How to take down/1. Take away the front/2. Take down the front roof/3. Take away the back/4. Slide open the back roof/5. Take out the cross wires/6. Then unscrew each end/*Do it Carefully* and Directions how to build up/1. Screw each end/2. Put in the two cross wires/3. Slide up the front roof/4. Then put in the front/5. Slide up the back roof/6. Then put in the back/*Do it Carefully*, another two labels in another hand This house was originally a beehive was altered for us as a dolls house for our mother Aileen HP (Halned) Stevens at 'The Limes' Harbledown Canterbury, our grandfather Francis Halned went to live at Harbledown in 1853 where this dolls house was found broken in the garden and This house was restored during winter 1903-4, new pillars to front door, new window frames, new inside walls and floors, at Hugues Cabinet Maker North Parade Oxford. This house was originally a beehive at 'The Limes' Harbledown Canterbury. It was used as a dolls house by our mother at Harbledown Canterbury and was given by her to us, JMB Stevens and ACT Stevens, January 1903.
34in. (86cm.) high, 26¾in. (68cm.) wide, 23in. (58cm.) deep

來源

Mrs. Aileen Halhed Stevens, 'The Limes', Harbledown, Canterbury.
Thence by descent in the family to J.M.B. and A.C.T. Stevens in 1903.

拍品專文

According to the inscribed labels attached to the base, this house was originally constructed as a beehive in the form of a Georgian manorhouse. It was found in the garden at 'The Limes', Harbledown, Canterbury, in 1853 at which time it was renovated for use as a doll's house. During the winter of 1903-4, it underwent a remodelling when the window frames, inside walls and floors were added by the cabinet-maker Hugues at North Parade, Oxford. It has more recently been remodelled as a birdcage with the addition of barred windows and perches.