A PAINTED WOOD HATCHMENT PAINTED WITH THE ARMS OF SIR THOMAS HUGH CONSTABLE 1ST BT. AND HIS WIFE MARY

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HERALDIC HIGHLIGHTS THE USE OF COATS-OF-ARMS TO CELEBRATE THE DISTINCTION AND LINEAGE OF A FAMILY HAS A LONG TRADITION IN WESTERN ART. TO DISPLAY A COAT-OF-ARMS IS A BADGE OF HONOUR DESIGNED TO IMPRESS THE VISITOR. A HATCHMENT (SUCH AS LOT 297) IS A FUNERAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE LIFETIME "ACHIEVEMENT" OF THE ARMS (SHIELD, HELMET, CREST, SUPPORTERS) AND ANY OTHER HONOURS DISPLAYED ON A BLACK LOZENGE-SHAPED FRAME WHICH USED TO BE SUSPENDED AGAINST THE WALL OF A DECEASED PERSON'S HOUSE. IT WAS USUALLY PLACED OVER THE ENTRANCE AT THE LEVEL OF THE SECOND FLOOR, AND REMAINED FROM SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS, AFTER WHICH IT WAS REMOVED TO THE PARISH CHURCH. THE PRACTICE DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY FROM THE CUSTOM OF CARRYING AN HERALDIC SHIELD BEFORE THE COFFIN OF THE DECEASED, THEN LEAVING IT FOR DISPLAY IN THE CHURCH. A COAT-OF-ARMS CAN ALSO APPEAR ON DOMESTIC FURNITURE, ON BUILDINGS, OVER DOORWAYS AND FIREPLACES, ON HERALDIC BEASTS CARVED AS NEWEL POSTS FOR EXAMPLE OR ON TAPESTRIES SUCH AS THE FINE SPANISH EXAMPLE OF AN ARMORIAL TAPESTRY HERE, LOT 302.

A PAINTED WOOD HATCHMENT PAINTED WITH THE ARMS OF SIR THOMAS HUGH CONSTABLE 1ST BT. AND HIS WIFE MARY

EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A PAINTED WOOD HATCHMENT PAINTED WITH THE ARMS OF SIR THOMAS HUGH CONSTABLE 1ST BT. AND HIS WIFE MARY
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
THE ARMS IN FULL ARE THOSE OF CONSTABLE QUARTERING CLIFFORD AND ASTON IMPALING CHICHESTER QUARTERING ANOTHER, FOR SIR THOMAS HUGH CONSTABLE, 1ST BT. AND HIS WIFE MARY (D,1825), DAUGHTER OF JOHN CHICHESTER OF ARLINGTON, DEVON
59 X 59½ IN. (150 X 151 CM.)

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Lot Essay

SIR THOMAS HUGH CONSTABLE, 1ST BT. WAS BORN ON 4 DECEMBER 1762. HE WAS THE SON OF HON. HENRY THOMAS CLIFFORD AND HON. BARBARA ASTON. HE MARRIED MARY MCDONALD CHICHESTER, DAUGHTER OF JOHN CHICHESTER, ON 17 JUNE 1791. HE DIED ON 25 FEBRUARY 1829 AT AGE 66.
SIR THOMAS WAS BAPTISED WITH THE NAME OF THOMAS HUGH CLIFFORD. ON 22 MAY 1815 AT THE REQUEST OF LOUIS XVIII OF FRANCE HE WAS CREATED 1ST BARONET CLIFFORD, OF TIXALL, STAFFORDSHIRE.

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