John Vardy
Stool for the Palm Room, Spencer House, London (one of a pair)

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MakerAttributed to John VardyEnglish, 1718–1765

CultureEnglish

Titles

Stool for the Palm Room, Spencer House, London (one of a pair)

Datec. 1757

PlaceEngland

MediumLimewood, gilding, and upholstery (not original)

Dimensions17 × 26 1/2 × 22 in. (43.2 × 67.3 × 55.9 cm)

Credit LineThe Rienzi Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III

Object number94.903.1

Not on view

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Department

Rienzi

Object Type

FURNITURE

Description

This gilded stool was part of a suite made specifically for the spectacular Palm Room at Spencer House, the London home of the Spencers, the family of Diana, Princess of Wales.

An unusual and important design, the stool features stylized, highly carved palm motifs that reflect the decoration featured in teh Palm Room's interior. John Vardy, one of the leading London architects of the eighteenth century, not only designed the Palladian-style house itself, but also much of Spencer House's furnishings and ground-floor interiors.

ProvenanceJohn, later 1st Earl Spencer, Spencer House, London, (probably) 1757; by descent to George John, 2nd Earl Spencer then the Spencer family; [H. Blairman & Sons, London]; Sir Alexander Korda; Mrs. A. I. Metcalfe; [Sotheby's London, June 4, 1976, lot 99]; [Hotspur, London, 1977]; purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Harris Masterson III; given to MFAH, 1994.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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