Lot Essay
During the 1960s the present chimneypiece was considered to be of such high quality that a copy was made in pine for the Green room at Winfield House(1), Regents Park, residence of the American Ambassador in 1969. Winfield House was built by the American heiress Barbara Hutton in 1938 and gifted by her to the American Government in 1945. When Walter H. Annenberg became ambassador in 1969 the house was renovated by the interior decorator William Haines and his partner Ted Graber. Mr Haines's bills provide detailed descriptions of the work and furniture supplied and his most significant transformation was the Green Room. Alongside the copy of the present chimneypiece, 18th century wallpaper was purchased from Townley Hall nr Drogheda in County Louth Ireland, and the broken pediments over the doorways were modelled on those in the North Hall at Claydon House, 1750. Haines's invoice states: copied superb example of carved Chippendale mantelpiece with eagle centre in old pine with waxed finish; installed with new green marble slips and hearth (2)
(1)
See Maria Tuttle and Marcus Binney, Winfield House 2008, Thames & Hudson pp.78-79
(2)
Ibid p.32.
(1)
See Maria Tuttle and Marcus Binney, Winfield House 2008, Thames & Hudson pp.78-79
(2)
Ibid p.32.