Chapter III: Part 3

_Lent by Sir Walter Prideaux._

PLATE XLVIII. 112 OLD WESTMINSTER.

Watercolour. 14¾ by 10 in.

An unfinished sketch on sugar paper. Old houses long ago cleared away, Westminster Abbey in background.

By D. COX (1783-1859).

_Lent by the Birmingham Art Gallery._

113 BUCKINGHAM HOUSE FROM THE GREEN PARK.

Watercolour. 17 by 8½ in.

This is unlike any other painting by David Cox known to the present writer, but it comes from an undeniable source, and is interesting as a topographical record. It represents, not Kensington Palace as stated on the frame, but Buckingham House, the end of the Mall, and road to Constitution Hill (see Nos. 48_a_ and 68), and the date shows that it was painted just before the destruction or complete alteration of the building.

By D. COX, 1825 (1783-1859).

_Lent by the Birmingham Art Gallery._

114 THE TEMPLE STAIRS.

Watercolour. 23½ by 15¼ in.

The above is the title given to this painting by Mr. Gardner; the stairs are not very apparent. The view shows part of the Temple, and some picturesque old riverside buildings to the east of it. In the background are the spires of St. Bride’s and St. Martin’s, Ludgate. It is undated.

_Lent by Sir E. Coates._

115 MONUMENT TO MARTIN BOND IN ST. HELEN’S CHURCH, BISHOPSGATE.

Watercolour. 10¼ by 13½ in.

Shows him as Captain of Trained Bands seated in his tent at Tilbury camp, 1588. Two sentinels guard the entrance, and a page holds his horse. There is a similar monument (1625) to Sir Charles Montagu in Barking Church, Essex. Both have special interest on account of the military costumes. Martin Bond died in 1643 at the age of eighty-five. It will be seen on the last page of catalogue that he gave to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital the pewter inkstand here exhibited.

_Lent by Mr. P. Norman._

FURNITURE AND OTHER OBJECTS OF ART

The furniture in this exhibition lent by the Secretary of State for India, the Worshipful Companies of Carpenters, Stationers and Clothworkers, and the Master of the Charterhouse, has been chosen as a fitting accompaniment to the drawings and paintings of Old London. They form a representative selection of such relics of London’s history as have survived the vicissitudes of Time. A certain individuality stamps the furniture. It was made for a definite reason, had a serious and official purpose to fulfil, and thus differs in some respects from the contemporary furniture of the home, in the making of which comfort, luxury, elegance and other domestic requirements had to be considered. As would be expected, therefore, the furniture from the India Office, from the City Halls and from the Charterhouse, is essentially severe in character, “masculine and unaffected,” and thoroughly sound both in design and workmanship.

The largest and most important collection is that from the Secretary of State for India. The India Office is fortunate in possessing a considerable number of fine pieces of English furniture of the eighteenth century. Most of these were transferred in the nineteenth century from the “Old India House” in Leadenhall Street at the time when the India Office absorbed the business of the East India Company. These historical events are discussed in full detail in “Records of the Honourable East India Company,” by Sir George Birdwood and William Foster.

A variety of interesting pieces have been lent by the Worshipful Companies of Carpenters, Stationers and Clothworkers. In the course of their history the City Companies have suffered many misfortunes. Of these the most disastrous was the Great Fire of 1666, which wrought havoc with their Halls and historic possessions. Most of the Halls were destroyed or suffered damage. Many were rebuilt under the influence of Sir Christopher Wren and his successors, but in most cases have been reconstructed in the nineteenth century. Fortunately, some of the panelling, carvings and furniture have been preserved and incorporated in the new buildings. The octagonal table in this exhibition, lent by the Carpenters’ Company, is one of the few existing pieces earlier in date than the Great Fire.

From the Charterhouse a few good pieces of English furniture have been obtained. First a Carthusian monastery, afterwards a nobleman’s palace, and lastly a Pensioners’ Hospital, the Charterhouse still shows records of the different phases of its romantic history. The splendid Elizabethan staircase and some of the panelling belong to the period when the Duke of Norfolk occupied the building as a residence. Other furniture and decoration commemorates the foundation of the hospital by Thomas Sutton, a wealthy trader and philanthropist; worthy of special mention is the small communion table in the chapel, bearing his arms and a mutilated date (16—), perhaps the most distinguished piece of furniture of its period which the country possesses. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to secure this table for the present exhibition.

Much of the furniture, here exhibited, was lent to the exhibition at Bethnal Green Museum organized by the Department of Science and Art in 1896.

O. B.

_Near the Alcove_

ARM-CHAIR, walnut wood, carved with the head of Neptune and acanthus foliage, with front legs in the form of dolphins: upholstered in red velvet, embroidered on the back in coloured silks and silver thread with the arms of the East India Company, 1698 (ar. a cross gu. in the dexter chief quarter an escutcheon of the arms of France and England, quarterly, the shield ornamented and regally crowned or. _Crest_: a lion ramp. guard. or, supporting between the fore paws a regal crown ppr. _Supporters_: two lions ramp. guard. or, each supporting a banner erect ar. charged with a cross gu. _Motto_: AUSPICIO REGIS ET SENATUS ANGLIÆ).

In the “Old India House” this chair was the seat of the Chairman when presiding over the Court of Directors; it is shown in T. H. Shepherd’s drawing in this exhibition, No. 66. At the India Office it has been used by each successive Secretary of State for India in Council.

Height, 4 ft. 11½ in.

Middle of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_On either side of the Alcove_

CLOCK, with circular dial, inscribed AYNSTH THWAITES LONDON, in case of gilt brass, supported on pedestal of mahogany and other woods, carved on the frieze with a demi-figure and scrolled foliage.

INSTRUMENT (companion to above) showing sidereal time, the day of the week, month of the year, phases of the moon, direction of the wind and the weather: inscribed AYNSTH THWAITES CLERKENWELL LONDON.

The clock was brought from the “Old India House” in Leadenhall Street. At the time the companion piece was lost sight of, but years afterwards was found on the continent by Mr. Bertram Currie, who purchased it and gave it back to the India Office (see “Records of the Honourable East India Company”).

Height (of each), 6 ft. 11½ in.

Date, 1760-1770.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_Near the Alcove_

ARM-CHAIR, walnut wood, the arms carved with masks and foliage, the legs ending in paw feet and carved with negro masks and leafage: upholstered in red velvet embroidered on the back with the crest of the East India Company; it is shown in No. 66.

Height, 4 ft. 9½ in.

First half of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_Against the East Wall_

PAIR OF CHAIRS, mahogany, with “ladder” backs, and seats covered with red leather.

Height (of each), 3 ft. ½ in.

Third quarter of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_Against the West Wall_

ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with shield-shaped back and seat covered with red leather.

Style of Hepplewhite.

Height, 3 ft. 3½ in.

Last quarter of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, the upper rail of the back carved with the crest of the East India Company within a circular medallion.

Height, 2 ft. 8½ in.

Early XIXth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, the upper rail of the back surmounted by a lunette carved with the crest of the East India Company.

Height, 3 ft. 1⅜ in.

Early XIXth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with square back having three vertical rails, and seat covered with red leather.

Height, 3 ft.

Last quarter of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_In the Centre of the Gallery_

TABLE, oak, composed of octagonal top supported on eight baluster legs joined by arches below the top; the spandrels are carved with the initials R. W. (Richard Wyatt, Master); G. I. (G. Isack, Warden); I. R. (J. Reeve, Warden); and W. W. (W. Willson, Warden), and the date 1606.

Height, 2 ft. 10 in. Width of top, 3 ft. 4¼ in.

Dated 1606.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters._

_On the South Wall_

SWORD REST, oak, carved, painted and gilt with the Royal Arms, the Arms of the City of London, of Sir Francis Chaplin, Bart. (Master, 1668; Lord Mayor of London, 1677), and of the Clothworkers’ Company.

Height, 6 ft. 4½ in.

Dated 1677 (the painting and gilding renewed).

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers._

_In the Alcove_

ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with solid vase-shaped splat and seat covered with leather.

Height, 3 ft. 5½ in.

First half of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers._

_Near the South Wall_

TABLE, oak, with plain column legs.

Length, 6 ft. 8½ in.

In the style of the XVIIth century.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._

_Against the East Wall_

ARM-CHAIR and CHAIR, mahogany, with pierced splats, and seats covered with horsehair.

Height (arm-chair), 3 ft. 8½ in.

Height (chair), 3 ft. 2½ in.

Middle of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._

CARD-TABLE, rosewood, with hinged top inlaid with floral designs in mother-of-pearl.

Height, 2 ft.; top, 2 ft. 8¼ in.

Early XVIIIth century (with Chinese inlay).

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._

ARM-CHAIR and TWO CHAIRS, mahogany, each with pierced splat and leaf carving; seats covered with horsehair.

Height (arm-chair), 3 ft. 2 in.

Height (chair), 3 ft. 1 in.

Third quarter of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._

_Near the Octagonal Table_

PAIR OF STOOLS, of oak.

Height, 1 ft. 8 in., and 1 ft. 10½ in.

XVIth century.

_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._

_Near the South Wall_

DESK, mahogany, with hinged slope for writing and drawing in upper part, the stand fitted with a drawer supported on two central legs.

Height, 4 ft. Width, 3 ft.

End of the XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._

_On the Long Table_

VASE, “crater” shaped, with two handles. On each side are painted the arms of the East India Company, with a rose spray below: the ground is pink, and all mouldings are heavily gilt. Mark impressed on the base, F B B under a crown (Flight, Barr and Barr, Worcester, 1813-40).

English, XIXth century.

_Lent by Mr. Herbert Allen._

TWO “NANKING” DISHES. Oval blue-and-white dishes, forming part of a dinner service, each piece of which bears the crest of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, viz.: a lamb, bearing on its shoulder a banner, charged with a cross.

Chinese, XVIIIth century.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors._

_On the Desk_

_The Master’s Bell of the Haberdashers’ Company._ White metal table-bell, with decorations of an armorial character between two bands of inscriptions: “LOF GOD VAN AL” and “ME FECIT JOHANNES A FINE AO 1549.” Johannes A Fine of Malines is well known as a maker of _clochettes_, of which some forty are recorded as bearing his name.

Flemish, XVIth century.

_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers._

_On the Mantelpiece_

PAIR OF BRASS CANDLESTICKS, shaped like Corinthian columns.

English, early XIXth century.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

TIMEPIECE in mahogany, lancet-shaped case, the dial inscribed: “THWAITES AND REED.”

About 1820.

_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._

_On the Octagonal Table_

PEWTER INKSTAND. The steep-pitched lid is inscribed “The guifte of Mr. Martin Bonnde,” while the flat top bears the arms of the donor and the date 1619. The inkstand is stamped T L in a beaded circle, and with two fleur-de-lys.

Mr. Martin Bond was a member of the well-known family which owned Crosby Place; he was a Captain of Trained Bands, and was Treasurer of the House of the Poor, commonly known as St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, from 1620 to 1642.

English, XVIIth century.

_Lent by the Treasurer and Almoners of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital._

LONDON: PRINTED AT THE CHISWICK PRESS

TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.

Plate I

Plate II

Plate III

Plate IV

Plate V

Plate VI

Plate VII

Plate VIII

Plate IX

Plate X

Plate XI

Plate XII

Plate XIII

Plate XIV

Plate XV

Plate XVI

Plate XVII

Plate XVIII

Plate XIX

Plate XX

PLATE XXI

Plate XXII

Plate XXIII

Plate XXIV

Plate XXV

Plate XXVI

Plate XXVII

Plate XXVIII

Plate XXIX

Plate XXX

Plate XXXI

Plate XXXII

Plate XXXIII

Plate XXXIV

Plate XXXV

Plate XXXVI

Plate XXXVII

Plate XXXVIII

Plate XXXIX

Plate XL

Plate XLI

Plate XLII

Plate XLIII

Plate XLIV

Plate XLV

Plate XLVI

Plate XLVII

PLATE XLVIII