Culzean Castle: A Scottish Gem

Culzean Castle, overlooking the Firth of Clyde, has a fascinating history.  In 1569, the 4th Earl of Cassilis gifted the castle to his brother, Sir Thomas Kennedy.  In the following centuries, the castle was expanded and enlarged.  The original castle was likely a stone tower house and dates back to the late 14th century. In …

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Classicism at its Finest: A George III Mahogany Armchair

Today we are sharing a marvellous specimen chair: the quality of the carving is quite magnificent, and the mahogany is of the most wonderful colour.  The distinctive carving of the anthemion, or honeysuckle, on the back splat is a hallmark of the neo-classical movement that was used by Robert Adam, James Wyatt, and other notable …

A Feast for the Eyes: A Look at 18th Century Dining Rooms

The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family and enjoy a wonderful feast together: and what better place to do it than the dining room.  We thought it would be the perfect time to have a look back at some iconic English country house dining rooms, both of which can now be …

Country Calling: A Visit to Aske Hall

We have been looking forward to our visit to Aske Hall for months--and the day is finally here!  Aske Hall is a Georgian country house north of Richmond in North Yorkshire. The first reference to the hall dates back to the Domesday Book of 1066.  In 1578, the Bowes family bought the house and built …

The Perfect Pairing: A Giltwood Bracket & Blue and White Charger

We are starting a new series on the blog entitled 'The Perfect Pairing' where we will look at two pieces from our collection that work well together.  Whether it is a desk and chair, mirror and chest, or lamp and table, the idea is to demonstrate how antiques from different periods and styles can come …

Fit for a Princess: A George III Chimneypiece attributed to Robert Adam

Continuing our week of all things royal, today we are highlighting a rare and important George III pine chimneypiece possibly designed by Robert Adam for Harewood House.  The carving throughout is of exceptional quality in the neo-classical taste, with carved laurel wreaths and bell flower swags and classical urns.  The surface would have been gilded or …

Across the Colour Spectrum: Decorating in Red

We are starting a new series on the blog focusing on colour.  We will put the neutral hues aside in favour of the bright and the bold with an exploration of colour's role in historic decoration and how it works in a contemporary interior. There is no better place to start than with red.  Red …

Unearthing an Etruscan Mystery: A Penwork Pembroke Table Attributed to Henry Clay

Today's post focuses on the above Pembroke table, which is a highly unusual and rare survival of a specific type of furniture made in England in the late eighteenth century. Goethe, a poet and philosopher, once wrote, 'Naples is a paradise' (Italian Journey, 1787).  During the second half of the eighteenth century, when Goethe was …