THE GODOLPHIN HOUSE BED. A MAGNIFICENT ELIZABETH I OAK TESTER BED

THE GODOLPHIN HOUSE BED. A MAGNIFICENT ELIZABETH I OAK TESTER BED

C.1580

One of the most complete Elizabethan beds recorded, the panelled tester carved with flowerheads set within guilloche carved rails, with the design repeated on the cornice and frieze, the headboard with a pair of recessed arcaded panels centred and flanked by acanthus carved uprights, the whole flanked by scroll and flowerhead carved ears, the substantial end posts carved with jewelled strapwork, above gadrooned cup and cover turning, the plinths flowerhead and nulled carved

209.5cm high,173cm wide, 218.5cm deep

Provenance

Godolphin House, Helston, Cornwall, the ancestral seat of the Godolphin family.

Catalogue Note

The Godolphin’s family extensive wealth generated from tin mining helped to build parts of the present grade one listed manor house. It is recorded that the future King Charles II stayed at Godolphin House in 1646. In 1786 the house was inherited by Thomas Osborne, 4^th Duke of Leeds, as the widower of Lady Mary Godolphin. The duke chose not to live at Godolphin and the house was subsequently rented out, including to a succession of local tenant farming families throughout the 19^th century. In 1937 Sydney Schofield, the Suffolk based son of the American Impressionist artist Walter Elmer Schofield bought Godolphin. In 2007 the Scholfield family sold the house to the National Trust and selected contents, including this bed, were sold in 2008.

Condition Report

Generally, for a 16th century bed the condition, colour and finish are all excellent. Most tester beds to be offered at auction have considerable repairs/alterations. This bed to by far the most original to be offered at auction in recent years.
Well-carved throughout.
Good uniform colour.
The ends of the headboard posts have been spliced, with associated iron braces added.
Small blocks to facilitate stable construction added. Namely, to the rear of the cornice. The cornice also has two later braces to the rear.
The rear centre of the cornice has a small splice inset – formerly cut to facilitate a house beam? Now repaired. The internal corners behind the end frieze with later blocks into which the end posts sit.
Some old splits to the cornice.
The carved mouldings to the centre of the headboard back panels are not shown in the Godolphin House sale in Exeter, they were apparently loose when photographed.
Edge moulding to one plinth replaced,
Later metal angle brackets to bed side rails. The side rails are a little thin compared to the end rail, and do not have bed staff holes, however, the uprights to the headboard are not overly wide, so likely made this way.
Some minor natural splits and small losses in accordance with age and use.