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_Near the Alcove_
ARM-CHAIR, walnut wood, carved with the head of Neptune and acanthus
foliage, with front legs in the form of dolphins: upholstered in red
velvet, embroidered on the back in coloured silks and silver thread
with the arms of the East India Company, 1698 (ar. a cross gu. in the
dexter chief quarter an escutcheon of the arms of France and England,
quarterly, the shield ornamented and regally crowned or. _Crest_:
a lion ramp. guard. or, supporting between the fore paws a regal
crown ppr. _Supporters_: two lions ramp. guard. or, each supporting
a banner erect ar. charged with a cross gu. _Motto_: AUSPICIO REGIS
ET SENATUS ANGLIÆ).
In the “Old India House” this chair was the seat of the Chairman when
presiding over the Court of Directors; it is shown in T. H. Shepherd’s
drawing in this exhibition, No. 66. At the India Office it has been
used by each successive Secretary of State for India in Council.
Height, 4 ft. 11½ in.
Middle of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_On either side of the Alcove_
CLOCK, with circular dial, inscribed AYNSTH THWAITES LONDON, in
case of gilt brass, supported on pedestal of mahogany and other woods,
carved on the frieze with a demi-figure and scrolled foliage.
INSTRUMENT (companion to above) showing sidereal time, the day of the
week, month of the year, phases of the moon, direction of the wind
and the weather: inscribed AYNSTH THWAITES CLERKENWELL LONDON.
The clock was brought from the “Old India House” in Leadenhall Street.
At the time the companion piece was lost sight of, but years afterwards
was found on the continent by Mr. Bertram Currie, who purchased it
and gave it back to the India Office (see “Records of the Honourable
East India Company”).
Height (of each), 6 ft. 11½ in.
Date, 1760-1770.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_Near the Alcove_
ARM-CHAIR, walnut wood, the arms carved with masks and foliage, the
legs ending in paw feet and carved with negro masks and leafage:
upholstered in red velvet embroidered on the back with the crest of
the East India Company; it is shown in No. 66.
Height, 4 ft. 9½ in.
First half of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_Against the East Wall_
PAIR OF CHAIRS, mahogany, with “ladder” backs, and seats covered with
red leather.
Height (of each), 3 ft. ½ in.
Third quarter of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_Against the West Wall_
ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with shield-shaped back and seat covered with
red leather.
Style of Hepplewhite.
Height, 3 ft. 3½ in.
Last quarter of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, the upper rail of the back carved with the crest
of the East India Company within a circular medallion.
Height, 2 ft. 8½ in.
Early XIXth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, the upper rail of the back surmounted by a
lunette carved with the crest of the East India Company.
Height, 3 ft. 1⅜ in.
Early XIXth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with square back having three vertical rails,
and seat covered with red leather.
Height, 3 ft.
Last quarter of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_In the Centre of the Gallery_
TABLE, oak, composed of octagonal top supported on eight baluster
legs joined by arches below the top; the spandrels are carved with
the initials R. W. (Richard Wyatt, Master); G. I. (G. Isack, Warden);
I. R. (J. Reeve, Warden); and W. W. (W. Willson, Warden), and the
date 1606.
Height, 2 ft. 10 in. Width of top, 3 ft. 4¼ in.
Dated 1606.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters._
_On the South Wall_
SWORD REST, oak, carved, painted and gilt with the Royal Arms, the
Arms of the City of London, of Sir Francis Chaplin, Bart. (Master,
1668; Lord Mayor of London, 1677), and of the Clothworkers’ Company.
Height, 6 ft. 4½ in.
Dated 1677 (the painting and gilding renewed).
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers._
_In the Alcove_
ARM-CHAIR, mahogany, with solid vase-shaped splat and seat covered
with leather.
Height, 3 ft. 5½ in.
First half of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers._
_Near the South Wall_
TABLE, oak, with plain column legs.
Length, 6 ft. 8½ in.
In the style of the XVIIth century.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._
_Against the East Wall_
ARM-CHAIR and CHAIR, mahogany, with pierced splats, and seats covered
with horsehair.
Height (arm-chair), 3 ft. 8½ in.
Height (chair), 3 ft. 2½ in.
Middle of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._
CARD-TABLE, rosewood, with hinged top inlaid with floral designs in
mother-of-pearl.
Height, 2 ft.; top, 2 ft. 8¼ in.
Early XVIIIth century (with Chinese inlay).
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Stationers._
ARM-CHAIR and TWO CHAIRS, mahogany, each with pierced splat and leaf
carving; seats covered with horsehair.
Height (arm-chair), 3 ft. 2 in.
Height (chair), 3 ft. 1 in.
Third quarter of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._
_Near the Octagonal Table_
PAIR OF STOOLS, of oak.
Height, 1 ft. 8 in., and 1 ft. 10½ in.
XVIth century.
_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._
_Near the South Wall_
DESK, mahogany, with hinged slope for writing and drawing in upper
part, the stand fitted with a drawer supported on two central legs.
Height, 4 ft. Width, 3 ft.
End of the XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Master of the Charterhouse._
_On the Long Table_
VASE, “crater” shaped, with two handles. On each side are painted the
arms of the East India Company, with a rose spray below: the ground
is pink, and all mouldings are heavily gilt. Mark impressed on the
base, F B B under a crown (Flight, Barr and Barr, Worcester, 1813-40).
English, XIXth century.
_Lent by Mr. Herbert Allen._
TWO “NANKING” DISHES. Oval blue-and-white dishes, forming part of a
dinner service, each piece of which bears the crest of the Merchant
Taylors’ Company, viz.: a lamb, bearing on its shoulder a banner,
charged with a cross.
Chinese, XVIIIth century.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors._
_On the Desk_
_The Master’s Bell of the Haberdashers’ Company._ White metal
table-bell, with decorations of an armorial character between two
bands of inscriptions: “LOF GOD VAN AL” and “ME FECIT JOHANNES A FINE
AO 1549.” Johannes A Fine of Malines is well known as a maker of
_clochettes_, of which some forty are recorded as bearing his name.
Flemish, XVIth century.
_Lent by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers._
_On the Mantelpiece_
PAIR OF BRASS CANDLESTICKS, shaped like Corinthian columns.
English, early XIXth century.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
TIMEPIECE in mahogany, lancet-shaped case, the dial inscribed:
“THWAITES AND REED.”
About 1820.
_Lent by the Secretary of State for India._
_On the Octagonal Table_
PEWTER INKSTAND. The steep-pitched lid is inscribed “The guifte of
Mr. Martin Bonnde,” while the flat top bears the arms of the donor
and the date 1619. The inkstand is stamped T L in a beaded circle,
and with two fleur-de-lys.
Mr. Martin Bond was a member of the well-known family which owned
Crosby Place; he was a Captain of Trained Bands, and was Treasurer of
the House of the Poor, commonly known as St. Bartholomew’s Hospital,
from 1620 to 1642.
English, XVIIth century.
_Lent by the Treasurer and Almoners of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital._
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