A George III giltwood four poster bed

A George III giltwood four poster bed, the front posts carved with cluster columns and petal capitals, on panelled square section bases and wooden castors, with Chinese blue and ivory silk tasselled hangings decorated with flowers and foliage (the original canopy now lacking), 238.5cm high, 160cm wide, 193cm long.

Provenance: From the collection formed by the late The Hon Mrs Daisy Fellowes, Donnington Grove, Berkshire, ex. The Blue Bedroom.

An article written in 1958 suggested that the Chinese silk hangings on the bed matched textiles already at Donnington Grove pointing to the fact that the bed was originally intended for the Grove. The author also discovered sketches for a bed by John Chute (the architect who designed Donnington Grove and also the Palladian staircase at his home The Vyne, Hampshire). The sketches were very similar to the above lot 'with wreathed posts, Chinesey-Gothick cusping and a domed canopy. It was presumably intended for the Vyne, and Chutes accounts show that he employed the celebrated firm of Vile and Cobb for making some furniture. This bed is not unworthy of them too.'.