A rare, late-19th century, Knole settee with a fine, late-16th century, Brussels tapestry back and original velvet upholstery
10718
The straight, padded back upholstered in finely woven, late-16th century, Brussels, tapestry. The tapestry depicting a man and a woman facing a central biblical cartouche, with exotic birds resting above, amongst a profusion of foliage, flowers and fruit. Woven in shades of red, blue, brown, green, beige and gold. The settee upholstered in the original gold/beige velvet and embellished with period gold, braid, and fringe. The adjustable padded wings joined to the arms with a hinge and attached to the back, urn shaped finials with period tassels. The seat with three, loose cushions. Standing on castors. English, second half of the 19th century.
The tapestry cleaned, restored and conserved.
This is a 19th century interpretation of the infamous, sumptuously, upholstered, 17th century, couch with hinged arm rests, found at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, the ancestral seat of the Sackvilles. The original couch served the dual purpose of bed and settee, and is one of the earliest examples of English, upholstered, seat furniture. This is a particularly fine example, and the early Brussels tapestry on the inside back is quite magnificent reflecting the opulence of this period.
16th Century
1575
English
17th Century Interiors & Decoration (Peter Thornton) ill 150 depicts the couch at Knole
