Lot Essay
Pugin's designs for the furnishings and fittings at the new Palace of Westminster began in 1846 and continued to his death in 1852. Many of the craftsmen already employed by Pugin elsewhere were called upon to make these new pieces. The cabinet-maker John Webb made the most important pieces, such as the Royal Throne, the Clerk's table in the house of Lord's and the cabinet in the Prime Minister's Room. After Pugin's death firms such as Gillows and Holland & Sons were invited to tender for supplying the remaining furnishings (C. Wainwright, 'Furnishing the New Palace: Pugin's furniture and fittings', Apollo, May 1992, pp. 303-306).