A rare set of thirteen Edwardian or George V 'Antiquarian' chairs in the Norman or early Gothic ...

A rare set of thirteen Edwardian or George V 'Antiquarian' chairs in the Norman or early Gothic style upholstered with needleworks depicting scenes based upon the legends of King Arthur Together with two early 20th century volumes entitled: 'Leladene', Dorking, Descriptive Catalogue and Leladene 1905-1920, including one armchair or throne chair, each chair surmounted by two finials modelled in the form of crouching knights each holding an heraldic shield, on spiral carved columnar legs terminating in octagonal block feet, with spiral carved cross stretchers centred by spiral-reeded knops, with a scrolled berried foliate carved twin s-scroll form front stretcher, the armchair with arm terminals comprised of two saintly figures standing on pedestals within trefoil niche-inset porticos, one figure dressed in classical attire, the other in a robe looking heavenward and holding a parchment, each chair with gros and petit-point needlework upholstery depicting significant events from the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table including the birth of King Arthur, the story of Lancelot and Elaine, the victory of King Arthur over the giant, the marriage of King Arthur and Guinevere, the story of Sir Galahad and the Holy Grail, the story of Merlin and Vivien, and the finding of the sword Excalibur, each seat embroidered with the heraldic devices or crests of the various knights involved in the legend of King Arthur encompassed by oak leaves, (15) Footnotes: Provenance The present lot formed part of an extensive collection of late Victorian and early 20th century furniture and works of art made in the Gothic, Elizabethan, Jacobean (perhaps more accurately 'Jacobethan') and Italian Renaissance styles, which were amassed and housed at an Estate called 'Leladene', in Dorking, Surrey during the early 20th century. The offered chairs, together with the other lots being offered herein as part of the selected property from this fascinating collection, appear listed in a detailed inventory which is dated 1928 and entitled 'Leladene', Dorking, Descriptive Catalogue, pp.'s 13-15. These chairs, along with the vast majority of the other included pieces, are also illustrated and described in another volume or album called Leladene, which is almost certainly contemporaneous to the aforementioned. Both of these publications go into much greater detail, especially with regards to the composition, symbolism and narrative of the needlework upholstery on this particular group of chairs. These are also included with the present lot. Subsequently, in the 1940s, there was a sale of the contents of Leladene, from which the present set of chairs and the other lots within this collection were purchased by the current owner and vendor's great grandmother. Thereafter, this furniture was shipped on behalf of the vendor's great grandparents to their residence in Ireland. Then these items were transferred to the family home in Jersey, before being finally installed in their Sussex home, where they have remained until only a couple of years ago. Much further analysis of the Arthurian scenes, figures and events depicted on the needlework upholstery of the present chairs can be found in the two aforementioned books included with this lot. 'Leladene' The approximately 80-acre Dorking estate upon which 'Leladene' was located had originally been known as 'Camilla Lacey'. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed most of the Regency building, along with its contents, in 1919. Subsequently, in 1921, the land and buildings of 'Camilla Lacey' were bought by a successful Dutch merchant called Henry van Nievelt. Shortly thereafter an ambitious and intensive building and re-building project was rapidly instigated by van Nievelt. Contrary to the previous restrained Neoclassical or Regency style of architecture employed, the new structure as well as its interiors were planned, designed and executed in the highly fashionable 'Tudor style' of the time. This 'Tudor style' could perhaps more accurately be defined as 'Jacobethan', using a descriptive term created by John Betjeman only a short while later. But the aesthetic approach in this instance appears to have in fact been an imaginative combination of Gothic, Elizabethan, Jacobean and even Italian Renaissance elements. This seems especially to be the case judging from the furniture lots offered here which previously formed part of the 'Antiquarian' collection housed within this residence. Somewhat intriguingly, such impressive large-scale work must have only been completed for a brief period before van Nievelt took the decision to put the house on the market once again. The reason for offering the property for sale so soon after acquiring and completely re-modelling it remains unknown. But in 1922 the estate was then purchased by the wealthy American, Victor E. Freeman. The following year Freeman moved in to establish himself as the new owner and custodian. However, even before he had the opportunity to become accustomed to his new rural English surroundings and recently resurrected home, his wife Leladene died. Following this tragic turn of events, Freeman renamed the estate in her honour and thus it was known as 'Leladene' from that moment onwards. In spite of the loss he had suffered, Victor Freeman went on to introduce a number of changes and improvements at 'Leladene'. Arguably one of the most notable additions came in 1931 when Freeman oversaw the construction of Home Farm. And during his tenure a riding school was also founded in what would later be referred to as Burney Cottage. But perhaps the most significant and interesting scheme was never actually realised at 'Leladene'. This was the intention to extend the eastern end of the building with an enormous 'Tudor' hall possessing high mullioned windows and a Minstrel Gallery. Had such an ambitious project ever been finished then it would have undoubtedly made 'Leladene' far too large and rendered the estate effectively unmanageable. Sadly, Victor Freeman died on 1st January 1931 at a time when evidently 'Leladene' was already experiencing serious financial challenges. These difficulties must have only increased following Freeman's death and probably intensified in the context of the Great Depression which was then taking place across Britain, and indeed the world, during that period. Inevitably, a sale of 'Leladene', wherein the estate was divided into three parts, took place just over one year later. Thereafter its history becomes much more complicated, but it would appear to be the case that over the course of time these three parts were further split into numerous much smaller sections which were sold off individually to a far larger number of parties. Regrettably this seems to have happened to a great deal of historic homes within the UK, particularly during the interwar era. Literature R. Shepperd, The Manor of Wistomble, in the parish of Mickleham, 1982, Westhumble, Chapters 8 & 9, pp.'s 73-96. www.micklehamwesthumblehistory.co.uk This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location ( For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing