CIRCA 1845, PROBABLY SUPPLIED BY J.G. CRACE

Details

TWO EARLY VICTORIAN OAK POLESCREENS
CIRCA 1845, PROBABLY SUPPLIED BY J.G. CRACE
The barley-twist uprights with three acanthus carved legs with scroll feet, one with an 18th Century canvas panel of embroidery with a cross-stitch background of climbing plants with multi-coloured leaves and flowers, four central figures in a petit-point of a lady with long brown dress and flowing blue scarf, a goddess in a chariot on clouds armed with a shield and spear, a kneeling figure below beating two drums and a man in a blue-skirted costume blowing a trumpet with banner
The other with an 18th Century canvas panel of embroidery with a cross-stitch border with floral corners around a central petit-point needlework scene depicting three men at a table, two drinking, one with a pipe and two further figures in the foreground smoking pipes, parts of the supports later (2)

Literature

'Chirk Castle', Guide Book, n.d., shown in situ in the fireplaces in the Long Gallery, pls. 18-19.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

These pole-screens, with acanthus-wrapped and voluted 'claws', are raised on salamonic-spiralled pillars in the same Elizabethan 'Gothic' fashion as features on the table bearing the brand adopted by the Oxford Street firm established by Henry Miles and John Edwards in 1822.

In the 1795 Inventory, the Drawing Room had '2 Sofa's Mahogany frames cover'd with work' and '10 Chairs stuff'd backs and Seats cover'd with work', as well as a 'Firescreen 0.8.0'. It is possible therefore that the needlework panels for these firescreens were re-used by J.G. Crace from the now lost Drawing Room suite.

In the 1872 'Inventory of the Household Goods and Furniture etc. etc. at Chirk Castle', these screens are listed as 'Pole screen with tapestry shade' in the Drawing Room and Saloon.

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