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For quality antiques visit www.TeaAntiques.comAntique of the month-George VI Sterling Silver Teapot, Compressed Circular Shape, Half Gadrooned Body, Acanthus Decoration, by Emes & Barnard, London 1823
This beautiful George IV compressed circler shaped sterling silver teapot, was made in London by Emes & Barnard in 1823. The main body of the teapot is decorated round the top half with gadrooned decoration, this is then repeated round the lid of the teapot. There is delightful applied acanthus leaf decoration to the top face of the pouring spout and also to the two handle sockets - a very nice decorative feature.
The engraved lion on one side of the teapot, would have been the family crest of the original owners of this fine teapot. The teapot has a full and very crisp set of hallmarks on its base and a short set of marks on the inside of the hinged lid. There is also a hallmark on the small wing nut that secures the finial to the lid.
This is a very fine and functional George IV teapot that could be used and would grace any afternoon tea table. More details of this item and other tea related antiques can be found by visiting my web site at www.TeaAntiques.com. Kensington Palace, Kensington, London
Subsequent Monarchs including Queen Anne, George I and George II have also made their changes to the Palace before it was given up as a main Royal Palace by George III who moved into Buckingham House, which is now Buckingham Palace. It is the many changes by various Monarchs that gives Kensington Palace a rather disjointed feel when you go round inside. However, there are some very fine State Rooms to be enjoyed from the time of these early Monarchs.
In front of the Georgian pedimented wing of the Palace is a garden which use to be a square lawn garden, with geometric flower beds, the design of the Duke of Teck who was then lodged in the Palace. This little garden was used for croquet, bowls and for taking tea on by the Duke and Duchess.
From the exhibitions, the first Royal apartment seen is Apartment 1a, this having last been the home to Princes Margaret and Lord Snowdon, granted to them by The Queen. Since the death of Princes Margaret, this apartment is awaiting being used for more displays etc, so currently appear a faceless set of almost empty rooms - which seems sad. However moving through these leads to the exhibition of the dresses from the late Princes Diana's collection, before continuing into the State Apartments. The first magnificent room is the King's grand Staircase, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1689 for William and Mary. It was later altered by George I, these alterations included the beautiful and cleverly painted scenes on the walls of the entire Staircase, this the work of William Kent. This painting includes trompe l'oeil arched balconies with balustrades, through which members of George I's court peer over the rising staircase. At the top of the Grand Staircase, visitors transverse the series of State rooms, these including the Presence Chamber, Privy Chamber, Cupola Room, Kings drawing Room, Council Chamber, Queen Victoria's Bedroom, Duchess of Kent's Dressing Room, The Kings Gallery and Queen Mary's apartments from the late seventeenth century. In their day, it would depend on your status and dress, as to how far you progressed into these State Apartments to see the King and Queen.
There looked to be a very tasty gateau appropriately named Orangery cake, obviously an Orange flavoured cake, but I went for a simple Chelsea bun (being in the district of Kensington and Chelsea) I thought this appropriate. This was very good, served warm with farmhouse butter. Chelsea buns are a rich fruited and spiced rolled bun that is delicious with afternoon tea. What more enjoyable place could there be in the area to enjoy a winters afternoon tea and to soak up some history and culture at Kensington Palace.
Kensington Palace For quality antiques visit www.TeaAntiques.comTo review past newsletters, just follow this link:
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If you should find yourself in London this winter, what better place can I
suggest for a bit of light relief from the cold winter days than a visit to
Kensington Palace, Kensington. Situated not far from the famous Harrods store, it can be
a diversion from the crowds of people out for some early Christmas shopping!
This early Royal Palace is sited on the West end of Hyde Park and became a
Royal residence in 1689 when it was acquired by King William III, whose statue
dominates the Palace South front, and Queen Mary
to escape the heavy air and smog of central London. Until this time the house,
as it was, belonged to Daniel Finch, Earl of Nottingham. He moved out to a
country estate and William and Mary moved in and began the alterations to turn
it into a Palace. The alterations were carried out by Sir Christopher Wren who
was Surveyor of the King's works. As William and Mary were so anxious to move
into their new Palace, instead of rebuilding completely, they designed the
Palace by adding on blocks and wings.
My approach to Kensington Palace was from the South and a drive through part
of Hyde Park leads to a huge pair of wrought iron gates with gilded details.
These gates stand guarding the red brick Palace, which on this elevation has
some slender white framed windows to the main block of the Palace which houses
the King's Gallery, a beautiful picture gallery designed for George I by William
Kent. In this great long room are hung some of the pictures from the time of
George I and have their original frames designed by William Kent, set off
against a rich red paper complemented by red damask curtains. This room also
contains an unusual wind direction indicator set above the central fireplace,
this made for William III by Robert Morden in 1694.
The East front of the Palace shows much of the additions made in the time of
George I between 1718 - 1727, including the pedimented central block with
Italianate window. These were some of the last alterations to the outside of the
Palace. Set back and to the right of this George I block, is the older block
which contained the Queen's gallery, this dating from 1690-1692 and made for
Queen Mary. King William had his own apartments on the South front of the
Palace.
Entering the Palace, the first thing that the visitor sees are some
exhibitions on court dress through the ages, how it evolved from the eighteenth
century to the 1920's and 30's. Exhibits show the work involved in tailoring and
dress making for Court clothes and the strict presentation ritual of Debutantes
at the Debutante's balls, presenting freshly 'out' young ladies to the Monarch,
in a hope that it would launch them into the best society. Another exhibition is
given over to some of the dresses worn by the current Monarch, Queen Elizabeth
II, during her long reign. Many of the dresses on display are by such world
renowned fashion designers such as William Hartnell and Hardy Amies.
The
cube shaped Cupola Room is a spectacular room with high domed painted ceiling by
William Kent, 1722. This magnificent ceiling brings together elements of Roman
architecture and symbols of the Court of George I, including a large Star of the
Order of the Garter, in the centre of the dome. The walls have gilded Ionic
pilasters and four gilt chandeliers hang from the ceiling. In the centre of this
room is a gigantic four faced clock acquired by the mother of George III. This
clock once contained a musical box which played tunes by Handel, Corelli and
Geminiani. It was in this room, that the future Queen Victoria was Christened.
Indeed, it was in Kensington palace, that the young Princess Victoria learned
that she was Queen upon the death of her Uncle, William IV, in 1737. A statue of
Queen Victoria looks out away from the Palace on the lawns of the East Front.
In
Queen Mary's Apartments there are two early Chinese blue and white teapots to be
seen, these dating from the late seventeenth century. These teapots along with
other pieces of blue and white Chinese porcelain can be seen in the Queen's
Bedchamber. Queen Mary was an avid collector of blue and white Chinese porcelain
which would be crowded onto every ledge and fireplace around her rooms.
After
enjoying the walk through the State Apartments of the Palace, I set forth to the
Orangery, just a few minutes walk from the Place, now a fine restaurant and tea
room.
This
delightful red brick Orangery was built in 1704-5 and retains the original
Portland stone terrace where in the summer the Orange trees that had over
wintered in the Orangery would be placed for the summer months. This gracious
building is attributed to Nicolas Hawksmoor with later alterations by Sir John
Vanbrugh. Inside, the restaurant and tearoom is a wonderful place in which to
enjoy a good afternoon tea. Visitors are greeted by a large table groaning under
the weight of a huge pile of fruit scones, cakes, biscuits and gateau's.
