Last time I visited Harewood House, the State Rooms were full of Christmas decorations, so it was lovely to explore them with fewer distractions. Robert Adam's wonderful plasterwork ceilings are in evidence in several of the rooms, like the Library above.
My favourite chandelier (below) would reach from floor to ceiling and beyond in my new flat but here, in the Cinnamon Drawing Room, looks utterly magnificent and perfectly proportioned.
The opulent State Bed, the most expensive piece of furniture the master cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale ever produced, which cost over £400 (that's £50,000 today) was only ever slept in twice - by Tsar Nicholas 1 of Russia, when he was the Grand Duke, and by Princess, later Queen, Victoria.
In the Gallery, furnished by Chippendale's son, Thomas Junior, the pelmets are carved from wood designed to look like fabric.
It's all so, so fabulous. The Lascelles family are very upfront about their historic links to the slave trade and the fact that the family money came from sugar plantations in Barbados. I suppose they can't do much about their past but they do take care to explain the history, share their vast collection of precious objects and artworks and to support, encourage and promote contemporary artists.
Maybe they should re-create the kind of shack that slaves lived in and stand it on the lawn - or maybe next to that bed.
ReplyDeletesuch a pretty place, I wonder how does it feels to sleep in a luxurious bed like that, would like to try at least once!
ReplyDeleteWhat craftmanship! From the plaster-work (how do they paint the ceiling around it?) to the wonderful (never heard the word before) pelmets of carved wood. Yes, I imagine that bed better have a good mattress, but through the years, I hope they've updated it a few times! Slavery allowed luxury to exist for the owners...an upside down society indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm really impressed by the plaster work. I would bet that some servant has tried out that bed if even for a moment. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh, that bed! A princess-obsessed little girl's dream!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is an amazing house. The ceilings are breathtaking. The Bed!!!!!
ReplyDelete