by William Beckford & Henry Edmund Goodridge

 
An ebonised and parcel gilt 'Fonthill pattern' stool, circa 1827-1844

Designed by Henry Edmund Goodridge (1797-1864)

& William Beckford (1760-1844)

Provenance: probably William Beckford Lansdown Tower; the Duchess of Hamilton; Messrs English & Sons Bath 1848...

Re-upholstered in 100% wool cloth with hand made silk bullion fringe.

Height 45 ½cm (18")
Width 45 ½cm (18")
Depth 32cm (12 ½") 

£POA
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This stool is on loan to the Beckford Tower Trust for public display at the Lansdown Tower Museum.
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This stool relates to the furniture supplied for William Beckford's retreat, Lansdown Tower designed circa 1825 by the Bath architect Henry Edmund Goodridge.

The catalogue for the 2001 exhibition 'William Beckford, 1760-1844: An Eye for the Magnificent' (Bard Graduate Centre for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture, Edited by Derek E. Ostergard) illustrates on pages 401-402 a variant of this model and an en-suite side chair. The Beckford Tower Trust has another plainer version of the side chair in their collection (see images).

 It is not known how many stools or indeed how many versions of these stools were originally supplied for the Crimson Drawing Room and the Library (see images). No evidence survives that could indicate the maker of the stools, Martin P. Levy writes in the afore mentioned catalogue;

 "A clue to the maker might be found in those cabinetmakers who subscribed to Edmund English's 'Views of Lansdown Tower'. English's family were involved in cabinetmaking as well as other related endeavours. Other cabinetmakers who subscribed included Charles Perry and Thomas Perry, one of whom appears to supplied Beckford with furniture. London Cabinetmakers William Smee, Thomas King and William Pocock, as well as Robert Hume, were all subscribers, and it is possible that any of these cabinetmakers might have supplied these pieces.'

 On The 20th November 1845, the Lansdown tower contents were sold, lasting for eight days. On day six (page 25 of the sale catalogue) the items from the Crimson Drawing Room were sold By Messrs. English and Son. The present stool could have formed part of any of lots 386, 387 or 388

'385 Four Ebonised chairs, Fonthill pattern, seats and backs, covered in crimson cloth, with silk lace bullion fringes, gilt annulets and nails.

386 Two stools to match.

387 Two ditto.

388 Two ditto.'

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