DOI Heft:
July 28, 1883
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17755#0049
July 28, 1883.]
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
37
GOOD-WOOD MADE BETTER AND BETTER.
[By Dumb-Crambo Junior.)
7"
I IliiTlIh i
ii-
Good Woo’d.
Staying the Course.
A Celling Race.
A PURELY TECK-NICAL MATTER.
An advertisement in the back page of a daily paper at the com-
mencement of last week, informed the public that a very interesting
ceremony was fixed to take place on the 26th of July and following
day, at the Duke of Wellington’s Riding-School. The occasion
was to be the sale by auction of many remarkable things, including
“ two antique sedan-chairs richly carved and gilt, formerly the pro-
perty of H. M. Queen Charlotte (unless previously disposed of) ”
and “ an Egyptian Cabinet inlaid with mother o’ pearl.” The last
item was suggestive of the military glories of an illustrious com-
mander of Volunteers who has recently been presented with a field-
officer’s commission in the Regular Army, and no doubt its birthplace
was not far from Tel-el-Kebir. The advertisement concluded with the
intimation that the collection “ might be viewed at the Palace by
special orders with Catalogues (price one shilling each), to be obtained
at the Auctioneers.” A visit to those persons elicited the further
facts that the Palace was Kensington, that the special orders were
easily obtained on the presentation of twelve pence, and that the
property was being sold “by command of H.R-.H. the Duchess and
H.S.H. the Duke of Teck.”
The Catalogue which was presented with the “ special order,” was
an unpretending little pamphlet. Bound in green, it bore on its cover
nothing but the words, “Kensington Palace,” and the names and
business address of the “Auctioneers and Land Agents” who had
been ' ‘ commanded ” to dispose of the ‘ ‘ little lot.” The title-page was
more pretentious. What are technically known as “bold lines,”
were given to a “ superb richly-carved Bombay Drawing-Room
Suite,” an “ elegant Gilt Suite in crimson satin,” and some “ Chip-
pendale Cabinets and Chairs.” Much smaller type was devoted to
“a Dining-Room Suite in leather,” and “a few Oil Paintings;”
while “ Ormolu Wall-Lights, Candelabra, and a variety of other
effects,” was scarcely legible. No doubt, to account for the absence
of articles de toilette,' &c., the collection was announced as “the
valuable surplus decorative and ornamental furniture removed from
the Palace.”
The Catalogue contained over three hundred items of a miscella-
neous character* This will be easily credited when it is stated that
No. 1 consisted of “ a 4ft. iron fender, brass fire-guard, and a 5ft. Gin.
bright steel fender, with ormolu moulding,” No. 13 of “a 7ft. carved
walnut easel, with shield and foliated scroll mount,” No. 15 of “a
pair of finely-executed bronze busts of ‘Her Majesty’ and the late
‘ Prince Consort’ on a pair of 48-inch Scagliola pedestals,” and No.
322 (to jump from the beginning of the Catalogue to the end) of “ five
kitchen chairs and a beer stillion.” The furniture was displayed in
the private apartments, and can be dealt with in their respective
■ rooms:—
Council Chamber.—Fenders and busts as above. Also “The
superb Bombay Suite.” Also warlike trophy, described in italics as
“ A very fine specimen from Egypt.” After the last two items,
“ Three 7-feet-6 mahogany cornice-poles, with gilt ends and brackets
and lacquered rings,” and “ A japanned purdonium and scoop ” are
comparatively uninteresting.
Drawing-Room.—After a couple of “ Marqueterie and buhl cabi-
nets,” and a “grotesquely-carved figure of Negro boy, supporting
tray for cards,” comes the gem of the collection, “The richly-framed
Louis XVI. drawing-room suite,” with'its “ richly-figured crimson
satin damask, stuffed and spring seats.” Shortly afterwards the
Catalogue describes “Three pairs of Madras curtains,” a good deal
of miscellaneous china, a bust or two, “A very fine Louis XIV.
chiming bracket-clock in ebonlsed case.” The contents of this
room concludes with “ 136*. Chinese Fish ” “ 137. Twenty Dessert
Plates, painted in Japanese subjects, with gill-shaped edges ” ; and
“ 138. An Antique Pistol-case, with carved top and silver entab-
lature, presentation to Prince of Wales, 1799.” Altogether a curious
and interesting collection!
Ante-Room.—Another “4-foot iron-fender.” Then some “what-
nots.” Then a small chintz drawing-room suite, politely described
as “ elegant.” Then a number of, small articles, inclusive of “ 155.
Three Jasper Vases ” ; and “153. The extra chintz covers to the
suite.”' Nothing of importance after this till a family relic, “ 160. A
Superb Bronze Bust, ‘ King Charles the First,' 30 inches high, in
armour, after Van Dyck.” Next, more ancestral presentments,
“ 162., An Oil Painting, three-quarters portrait, ‘ King George the
Second,’ in gilt frame ” ; and “ 163. A ditto, ditto, ‘ The Queen.' ”
The effect of these exhibits is a little spoilt by an oil painting,
described in the catalogue as “ a spirited production,” and called
“ The Cock Fight.'' However, the first day’s sale” is brought to
a mildly waggish conclusion with “ 166. An Occasional Table, with
inlaid marble top and drawer, on a quaintly-carved stem and plinth.”
Dining-Room and Library.—The fender, as usual. Then “A
noble chimney glass.” Next- a Turkey carpet. Of the remainder,
perhaps the most interesting item is, “ A gaselier, with Sugg’s patent
burners and reflector.”
Sitting-Room.—The invariable fender, a few chairs, and “ 208. A
Terrestrial Globe, on mahogany tripod stand, with magnetic compass
and green-baize cover.”
Rooks and Engravings.—A number of family portraits, such as
“ Prince George of Denmark,” “Anne, Princess of Orange (1734),”
and “ Sophia of Brunswick (1700).” Then some good oil paintings.
The “ whole to conclude ” with a family library, consisting of “ the
works of Kings Charles the First and James the First.”
And, at this point, it may be as well to stop without entering the
Hall, the Vestibule, or the Offices, although in the latter appear a
“Set of six metal dome Dish-Covers in sizes,” and “A capital
Refrigerator in japanned oak case.” Considering that this is a sale
of the “ surplus furniture” (family portraits and kitchen chairs !) of
one of the most deservedly popular ladies in England, the ‘ ‘ Bonnie
Princess Mary,” it is impossible to read the Catalogue with satisfac-
tion,—no, not even when it is regarded as a stimulant to satire or
a feeding-ground for laughter!
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
37
GOOD-WOOD MADE BETTER AND BETTER.
[By Dumb-Crambo Junior.)
7"
I IliiTlIh i
ii-
Good Woo’d.
Staying the Course.
A Celling Race.
A PURELY TECK-NICAL MATTER.
An advertisement in the back page of a daily paper at the com-
mencement of last week, informed the public that a very interesting
ceremony was fixed to take place on the 26th of July and following
day, at the Duke of Wellington’s Riding-School. The occasion
was to be the sale by auction of many remarkable things, including
“ two antique sedan-chairs richly carved and gilt, formerly the pro-
perty of H. M. Queen Charlotte (unless previously disposed of) ”
and “ an Egyptian Cabinet inlaid with mother o’ pearl.” The last
item was suggestive of the military glories of an illustrious com-
mander of Volunteers who has recently been presented with a field-
officer’s commission in the Regular Army, and no doubt its birthplace
was not far from Tel-el-Kebir. The advertisement concluded with the
intimation that the collection “ might be viewed at the Palace by
special orders with Catalogues (price one shilling each), to be obtained
at the Auctioneers.” A visit to those persons elicited the further
facts that the Palace was Kensington, that the special orders were
easily obtained on the presentation of twelve pence, and that the
property was being sold “by command of H.R-.H. the Duchess and
H.S.H. the Duke of Teck.”
The Catalogue which was presented with the “ special order,” was
an unpretending little pamphlet. Bound in green, it bore on its cover
nothing but the words, “Kensington Palace,” and the names and
business address of the “Auctioneers and Land Agents” who had
been ' ‘ commanded ” to dispose of the ‘ ‘ little lot.” The title-page was
more pretentious. What are technically known as “bold lines,”
were given to a “ superb richly-carved Bombay Drawing-Room
Suite,” an “ elegant Gilt Suite in crimson satin,” and some “ Chip-
pendale Cabinets and Chairs.” Much smaller type was devoted to
“a Dining-Room Suite in leather,” and “a few Oil Paintings;”
while “ Ormolu Wall-Lights, Candelabra, and a variety of other
effects,” was scarcely legible. No doubt, to account for the absence
of articles de toilette,' &c., the collection was announced as “the
valuable surplus decorative and ornamental furniture removed from
the Palace.”
The Catalogue contained over three hundred items of a miscella-
neous character* This will be easily credited when it is stated that
No. 1 consisted of “ a 4ft. iron fender, brass fire-guard, and a 5ft. Gin.
bright steel fender, with ormolu moulding,” No. 13 of “a 7ft. carved
walnut easel, with shield and foliated scroll mount,” No. 15 of “a
pair of finely-executed bronze busts of ‘Her Majesty’ and the late
‘ Prince Consort’ on a pair of 48-inch Scagliola pedestals,” and No.
322 (to jump from the beginning of the Catalogue to the end) of “ five
kitchen chairs and a beer stillion.” The furniture was displayed in
the private apartments, and can be dealt with in their respective
■ rooms:—
Council Chamber.—Fenders and busts as above. Also “The
superb Bombay Suite.” Also warlike trophy, described in italics as
“ A very fine specimen from Egypt.” After the last two items,
“ Three 7-feet-6 mahogany cornice-poles, with gilt ends and brackets
and lacquered rings,” and “ A japanned purdonium and scoop ” are
comparatively uninteresting.
Drawing-Room.—After a couple of “ Marqueterie and buhl cabi-
nets,” and a “grotesquely-carved figure of Negro boy, supporting
tray for cards,” comes the gem of the collection, “The richly-framed
Louis XVI. drawing-room suite,” with'its “ richly-figured crimson
satin damask, stuffed and spring seats.” Shortly afterwards the
Catalogue describes “Three pairs of Madras curtains,” a good deal
of miscellaneous china, a bust or two, “A very fine Louis XIV.
chiming bracket-clock in ebonlsed case.” The contents of this
room concludes with “ 136*. Chinese Fish ” “ 137. Twenty Dessert
Plates, painted in Japanese subjects, with gill-shaped edges ” ; and
“ 138. An Antique Pistol-case, with carved top and silver entab-
lature, presentation to Prince of Wales, 1799.” Altogether a curious
and interesting collection!
Ante-Room.—Another “4-foot iron-fender.” Then some “what-
nots.” Then a small chintz drawing-room suite, politely described
as “ elegant.” Then a number of, small articles, inclusive of “ 155.
Three Jasper Vases ” ; and “153. The extra chintz covers to the
suite.”' Nothing of importance after this till a family relic, “ 160. A
Superb Bronze Bust, ‘ King Charles the First,' 30 inches high, in
armour, after Van Dyck.” Next, more ancestral presentments,
“ 162., An Oil Painting, three-quarters portrait, ‘ King George the
Second,’ in gilt frame ” ; and “ 163. A ditto, ditto, ‘ The Queen.' ”
The effect of these exhibits is a little spoilt by an oil painting,
described in the catalogue as “ a spirited production,” and called
“ The Cock Fight.'' However, the first day’s sale” is brought to
a mildly waggish conclusion with “ 166. An Occasional Table, with
inlaid marble top and drawer, on a quaintly-carved stem and plinth.”
Dining-Room and Library.—The fender, as usual. Then “A
noble chimney glass.” Next- a Turkey carpet. Of the remainder,
perhaps the most interesting item is, “ A gaselier, with Sugg’s patent
burners and reflector.”
Sitting-Room.—The invariable fender, a few chairs, and “ 208. A
Terrestrial Globe, on mahogany tripod stand, with magnetic compass
and green-baize cover.”
Rooks and Engravings.—A number of family portraits, such as
“ Prince George of Denmark,” “Anne, Princess of Orange (1734),”
and “ Sophia of Brunswick (1700).” Then some good oil paintings.
The “ whole to conclude ” with a family library, consisting of “ the
works of Kings Charles the First and James the First.”
And, at this point, it may be as well to stop without entering the
Hall, the Vestibule, or the Offices, although in the latter appear a
“Set of six metal dome Dish-Covers in sizes,” and “A capital
Refrigerator in japanned oak case.” Considering that this is a sale
of the “ surplus furniture” (family portraits and kitchen chairs !) of
one of the most deservedly popular ladies in England, the ‘ ‘ Bonnie
Princess Mary,” it is impossible to read the Catalogue with satisfac-
tion,—no, not even when it is regarded as a stimulant to satire or
a feeding-ground for laughter!