Daylesford's Colefax & Fowler Furnishings

 

A view of the Saloon at Daylesford
as decorated by John Fowler for the
2nd Viscount Rothermere.
Christie's.

 As Part II in the Notable Homes series on Daylesford, a closer look is given to the furnishings selected by John Fowler and Esmond Harmsworth, the 2nd Viscount Rothermere.  (For the previous post, Part I, click here).  After the viscount died in 1978, his widow and third wife, the former Mary Murchison, returned to live in the U.S. where she died in 1993 at age 62 in a West Palm Beach, Florida, hospital.  A native of Dallas, Texas, Viscountess Rothermere was the daughter of Kenneth Murchison, the founder of a successful insurance partnership, and the niece of Clinton W. Murchison, once one of the world's wealthiest men.  According to her obituary, she maintained homes in Palm Beach, Manhattan, Monte Carlo, and Newport, Rhode Island where she was a supporter of Save the Bay.  In addition, she served on the board of directors of Stratford Hall Plantation in Virginia and the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.  Although it was her stepson and step-grandson who inherited the viscountcy, her six sons by a previous marriage and her son with Esmond were well taken care of by a trust that included some shares in the Daily Mail and Daily Standard group of newspapers; a 1997 partial sell-off of shares netted her seven sons GBP 163 million.

A view of Daylesford from the
Image from VIEWS OF THE SEATS OF
NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN
OF ENGLAND,WALES, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND
by J.R. Neale, 1823.

Although Daylesford House had been sold (with the next owners to be discussed in following posts), many of the furnishings remained with Mary, Viscountess Rothermere until a sale on April 16, 1994, in New York at Christie's.  So there were no photos in the catalogue of the furniture in situ at Daylesford, but some of the lots could be seen in a series of delightful but uncredited watercolors, included in this post.


Another watercolor view of the Saloon
at Daylesford as decorated by John Fowler.
Image via Christie's.

Among the most memorable furnishings during the Fowler period at Daylesford are the suite of seat furniture by Thomas Chippendale for Sir David Garrick.  Of course, Chippendale is one of the most famous names in furniture, but Garrick, an acclaimed actor and manager of the Drury Lane Theatre, was a celebrity in his time.


David Garrick's Hampton Villa.

Married to the famous Viennese dancer Eva Marie Viegel, Garrick purchased a furnished villa on the banks of the Thames on the outskirts of London in Hampton in 1754.  Utilizing the top talent of the day, he employed Robert Adam for architectural improvements, Jean Pillement to decorate the drawing room walls with chinoiserie painting, and Capability Brown to landscape the grounds.  From 1768 to 1778, Chippendale was involved with the interiors and the work was documented in bills, correspondence, inventories, and sale catalogues.  An invoice, provided in the Christie's catalogue, which runs from 21 May to 23 September 1768, lists the seat furniture as follows:

      David Garrick, Esq

      To Thomas Chippendale

1768                                                                                L  s  d

Aug 3

      To 8 French Arm Chairs very neatly

      Carv'd & painted Blue & white, stuff'd

      & cover'd with your own Blue

      Damask & Brass nail'd                                         24  -  -

      To 2 large Tub Chairs carv'd &

      painted to match stuff'd & Cover'd

      with damask & large Down Cushions

      for the seats                                                           12  -  -

      To a large French sofa to match the

      Chairs and cover'd with your damask

      & nail'd & a large Feather Cushion

      Blue Cheque cases for the sofa & Cushion            2  -  -                                                  

 



In addition to this commissioned suite of furniture, Chippendale altered and repaired Garrick's existing furniture.  Also, Chippendale made a bed (now painted green and white) to match this suite that is exhibited in the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum (click here to see access. no. W.21-1917)



A pair of George III painted bergeres,
circa 1768 by Thomas Chippendale
from the Saloon of Daylesford.
Christie's.  Lot 142, Sale 7906.

A set of six George III painted armchairs,
four circa 1768 by Thomas Chippendale,
two of a later date.  From the Saloon at Daylesford.
Christie's. Lot 143, Sale 7906.

A view of the Saloon showing the back of the settee
en suite with the previous seating.
The settee was of a later date, commissioned by
John Fowler, but it is presumed that all had
the same yellow fabric.  The settee was offered in
the catalog as Lot 144 but was not pictured.

The suite is included in a 1779 inventory when Garrick died and again in the sale catalogue when his widow died in 1823.  Her solicitor bought the house and many of the furnishings, but when the house and contents were sold again in 1864, the suite did not appear in the auction catalogue.  The whereabouts were unknown until Colefax & Fowler assistant Tom Parr found them during John Fowler's decoration of Daylesford.  The existing paint finish was scraped down to find traces of the old blue and white decoration;  thinking the paint finish was more stylish than gilding, Fowler had them painted grey-blue and antique white.

A George III giltwood mirror,
circa 1765, in the manner of John Linnell
from the Saloon at Daylesford.
Christie's. Lot 161. Sale 7906.

A pair of Regency lacquer-mounted and grained rosewood
side cabinets from the Saloon at Daylesford.
Each with a later black slate top.
Christie's. Lot 162. Sale 7906.

The Dining Room at Daylesford
during the Rothermere residency.
Image via Christie's.



A pair of  George III cut-glass, ormolu and blue glass
three-light candelabra, late 18th century.
Christie's.  Lot 96, Sale 7906.

A Regency mahogany four-pedestal drop-leaf
dining table, early 19th century.
Christie's. Lot 186, Sale 7906.

A set of 10 Regency chairs along with 8 of a later date
commissioned by John Fowler for Viscount Rothermere.
Christie's Sale 7178, 2005.

The largest room of the house is the sitting room known as the Long Gallery.  It was comfortably furnished for everyday use. 


The Long Gallery at Daylesford
during the Rothermere residency.
Image via Christie's.



A Scottish George III mahogany open armchair,
mid-18th century.
Christie's. Lot 131, Sale 7906.

A Queen Anne stool, together with a matching copy
of a later date.
Christie's. Lot 164, Sale 7906.

A Louis XVI ormolu-mounted and brass-inlaid ebony
longcase regulateur with equation of time, circa 1780.
The case stamped J. JOLLAIN twice.
Christie's. Lot 113. Sale 7906.

Another view of the Long Gallery
during the Rothermere residency.
Christie's.



The Morning Room pictured in JOHN FOWLER, PRINCE OF DECORATORS and discussed in the previous post of The Devoted Classicist is also known as the Chinese Room because of artwork.  In the reflection in the mirror, note the curtains designed by Fowler and how the swags connected around the curved bay.


The Morning Room at Daylesford
during the Rothermere residency.
Image via Christie's.

A pair of Regency ormolu-mounted rosewood side cabinets,
early 19th century.
Christie's. Lot 130, Sale 7906.

The Library at Daylesford
during the Rothermere residency.
Christie's.

An early George III mahogany kettle stand
with a later canted square top.
Christie's. Lot 172, Sale 7906.

An English bronze bust of Warren Hastings
cast from a model by Thomas Banks.
See the previous post for more on Hastings.
Christie's. Lot 1, Sale 7906.

Another view of the Library at Daylesford
during the Rothermere residency.
Christie's.

Portrait of Warren Hastings
by Lemuel Francis Abbott.
Christie's London, April 15, 1994.

The auction catalogue consisted of property from the estate of Mary, Viscountess Rothermere, and was not limited to furnishings that had been at Daylesford.  The portrait of Warren Hastings might have been at another residence, but that is unlikely and is shown here because of the significance to the history of the house.


Portrait of Margaret Layton of Rawdon,
circa 1620, oil on panel.
Christie's. Lot 191, Sale 7906.





 Margaret Layton's doublet,

the jacket or waistcoat seen in the portrait.

Linen embroidered in silver and silver-gilt thread,

with sequins and gold lace, lined in pink silk.

English, circa 1620 to 1620.

Christie's.Lot 192, Sale 7906.

(A pair of matching leather gloves was offered as Lot 193).

The portrait of Margaret Layton and associated garment were most likely from the Rothermere's London mansion Warwick House.  Facing Green Park, it was built 1770 to 1771 to a design by Sir William Chambers (the architect of Somerset House, the pagoda at Kew, and Albany), but largely rebuilt during the 19th century in the French Renaissance taste.  Purchased in 1924 by Esmond Harmsworth (before he was a viscount), the principal rooms were remodeled in the 18th century style.  A photo of the Rothermeres posing with the portrait and jacket in the background was shown in the previous post.

The catalogue also showed silver and art from the estate that was offered in 13 additional specialty auctions in New York and London, including a portrait by El Greco.

The next post of The Devoted Classicist will present Daylesford as it was decorated by Renzo Mongiardino during the residency of its next owner, Baron Hans Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Harewood House Cleaning

Harewood House.
Photo:  Wikipedia.

There has been a house cleaning of the great Yorkshire stately home, Harewood House, with the results being two up-coming sales at Christie's London.  "Harewood: Collecting in the Royal Tradition"  will be held on December 5, 2012, and "Harewood: The Attic Sale" on December 9, 2012.


HRH The Princess Mary, Princess Royal,
The Countess of Harewood.
Photo:  Christie's.

Harewood House, the home of the Lascelles family, is renown for its Robert Adam interiors and original furnishings by Thomas Chippendale.  The sales center primarily on objects outside the primary collections, mainly with the collection of HRH the Princess Mary, 1897 to 1965.  The only daughter of George V, she married the 6th Earl of Harewood in 1922.  Like her famous collector mother Queen Mary, she was interested in Chinese jade, hardstone, and Faberge.  (The princess's grandmother, H.M. Queen Alexandra, was sister of the Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna).


A candelabrum by Matthew Boulton.
Sale 6277, Lot 550.
Christie's.

A spectacular Matthew Boulton candelabrum of bluejohn, ormolu and tortoiseshell is one of the lots with the highest estimates, GBP 200,000 to 300,000.  Princess Mary purchased the vase from the collection of her brother Prince George, the Duke of Kent, after his death in World War II through the 1947 Christie, Mason & Wood sale of property from Derby House.  (See the diamond bow brooch that had belonged to her sister-in-law in the previous post of The Devoted Classicist).


A pair of armchairs by Thomas Chippendale.
Sale 6277, Lot 600.
Christie's.

A pair of important armchairs commissioned for the Music Room from Thomas Chippendale, circa 1770, will also be included in the sale.  The chairs, originally japanned green and gold, were redecorated with white paint and parcel-gilt and reupholstered with the current fabric circa 1850-53 by George Trollope & Sons.  Chippendale's largest and most important commission was for the 1st Baron Harewood, Edwin Lascelles, 1712 to 1795, to furnish his new home, Harewood House.  Here Chippendale fully embraced the 'antique' and his work at Harewood House included not only furniture but wallhangings, curtains, and a carved model of a stove to be fabricated by the local founder.

A painted panel by Alec Cobb,
early 1990s.
Sale 7613, Lot 1189.
Christie's.

Vernay & Jussel

When The Devoted Classicist worked at Parish-Hadley, he came to know the shop of Vernay & Jussel as one of the country's most respected dealers in English antiques.  (Parish-Hadley was a customer of the shop, but this writer's reason to visit the Madison Avenue address had to do with business with the owner's brother, Arthur Jussel, an excellent builder who had a small office above the shop).  That whole stretch of the avenue is filled with the boutiques of the big names in fashion;  I think the Armani men's store occupies that space now.

The origins of the business date from 1906 when Arthur S. Vernay established "The Shop Around The Corner" at 1 East 45th Street at the urging of his friend Mrs. Morton F. Plant, a noted collector herself who lived in the magnificent Fifth Avenue mansion that now houses Cartier.  When Mr. Vernay retired in 1940, the firm was bought by Stephen J. Jussel, who had been the firm's General Manager and an employee since 1928.  When Stephen retired in 1972, his son Chris became the sole proprietor.  In 1977, the business was renamed Vernay & Jussel.

A William and Mary Time Piece, ebony and gilt-bronze mounted,
by Thomas Thompion, London, no. 87, circa 1690.

The firm consistently provided the highest quality time pieces for collectors and is credited as introducing English clocks into the American market.

George I Repeating Bracket Clock, gilt-bronze and ebony,
by Daniel Quare, Ste: Horseman, London, no. 266, possibly dated 1724.

Spherical Eight-Day Skeleton Clock
by Henry Gratte, first quarter 19th century.

George III mahogany month-going longcase clock,
by Allam & Clements, London, circa 1775.

But the shop's inventory varied beyond rare clocks and included fine case furniture, tables, seating, mirrors and rare decorative pieces.

English historical picture of Codrington College, Barbados,
in needlework, mid-18th century.
(The building still exists as the theological college of the Anglican Church
in the Province of the West Indies, affiliated to the University of the West Indies).

George III mahogany bedside cabinet, circa 1770
attributed to Thomas Chippendale.

George III mahogany pedestal partners' desk, 1760.
(This fine, highly figured desk had been sold by Arthur S. Vernay, Inc.,
in 1919 and again in 1933).

Regency faux marble cellaret, first quarter 19th century,
after a design by Charles Heathcote Tatham.
By repute, from Castle Howard, Yorkshire.

Charles II polychrome-painted and black-japanned coffer,
second half 17th century.
By repute, from Ham House, Surrey.
(17th century blanket chests with japanned decoration are very rare,
but this was made at the height of the fashionable craze for all things Chinese).

George III mahogany stool, circa 1765,
attributed to Thomas Chippendale.
(Account books from Christ Church Library, Oxford University, record an order
for virtually identical stools supplied by Thomas Chippendale on July 21, 1764).

A pair of George III 'Boulle' marquetry tortoiseshell,
brass, pewter and rosewood writing cabinets, early 19th century,
possibly by Thomas Parker.

By 1995, real estate demands and a desire for a career change convinced Chris Jussel to close shop and have the inventory sold at auction.  One of the highlights of the sale, featured on the catalog cover, was a magnificently carved Neoclassical wine cooler.

George III mahogany wine cooler, circa 1800,
from the workshop of George Seddon.

The sale included a wide range of selections, including this fine tea caddy that was given to Stephen Jussel as a birthday present by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

George III tea caddy of mahogany
inlaid with various wood, last quarter 18th century.

The signed photograph that accompanied the gift.

This writer's favorite lot in the sale might have been a fine and rare coin cabinet embellished with 'Grand Tour' souvenir medallions.

George III coin cabinet of bronze-mounted mahogany,
circa 1775, with Italian bronze medallions of the twelve Caesars,
17th/18th century, in two parts.

Starting in 1995, Chris was the host of the first four years of the PBS hit television series "Antiques Roadshow".  From 1999 to 2003, he was Senior Vice President Sotheby's, Trust and Estates division, and worked on their Online Auctions Program.  Chris served as Senior Vice President of Samuel T. Freeman & Co. auctioneers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 2007 to 2009.  Presently, Chris Jussel serves as a private consultant for art and antiques.

Chris Jussel, 2006.
Facebook photo, Rob Rich, imagesofsociety.com

The photos, except as noted, come from the Sotheby's auction catalog, "Important English Furniture and Decorations", New York, January 21, 1995, Sale 6658.