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Lot Essay
An unsigned pencil drawing at Tew, but inscribed in George Bullock's hand 'Plan of Stove in Dining Room and Oak Study' appears to confirm the attribution to Bullock of this distinctive 'sarcophagus' design. Four grates of this model (including this one) were sold from Tew Park at the 1987 Christie's house sale: lots 4, 27, 48 and 155.
TEW PARK
There has been a house at Tew since at least the early 17th century, when the E-shaped manor house was owned by the Tanfield family. The house was later owned by the Falkland, Keck and Stratton families, before being purchased in much altered form by Matthew Robinson Boulton, son of the celebrated Matthew, one of the giants of the Industrial Revolution and partner of James Watt. His purchase of Tew in 1815 was soon followed by the appointment of the Tenterden Street cabinet-maker and upholsterer, George Bullock (1778-1818) who had previously opened 'Grecian Rooms' in both Liverpool and London's Piccadilly, and had executed the prestigious commission to furnish the St. Helena residence granted by George, Prince Regent to the defeated Emperor Napoleon. Bullock likewise completely re-furnished the three principal rooms and bedrooms of the old house with furniture in the fashionable Grecian style, patriotically made of holly and British oak (a hallmark of Bullock's style), and upholstery done in bold Regency colours that received considerable praise from Rudolph Ackermann in his fashion publication The Repository of Arts. Bullock died in 1818, but not after having billed his client for £4,400, a figure that led to some acrimonious exchanges between client and cabinet-maker.
TEW PARK
There has been a house at Tew since at least the early 17th century, when the E-shaped manor house was owned by the Tanfield family. The house was later owned by the Falkland, Keck and Stratton families, before being purchased in much altered form by Matthew Robinson Boulton, son of the celebrated Matthew, one of the giants of the Industrial Revolution and partner of James Watt. His purchase of Tew in 1815 was soon followed by the appointment of the Tenterden Street cabinet-maker and upholsterer, George Bullock (1778-1818) who had previously opened 'Grecian Rooms' in both Liverpool and London's Piccadilly, and had executed the prestigious commission to furnish the St. Helena residence granted by George, Prince Regent to the defeated Emperor Napoleon. Bullock likewise completely re-furnished the three principal rooms and bedrooms of the old house with furniture in the fashionable Grecian style, patriotically made of holly and British oak (a hallmark of Bullock's style), and upholstery done in bold Regency colours that received considerable praise from Rudolph Ackermann in his fashion publication The Repository of Arts. Bullock died in 1818, but not after having billed his client for £4,400, a figure that led to some acrimonious exchanges between client and cabinet-maker.