ROYAL INTEREST. A PAIR OF REGENCY PAINTED OAK BOOKCASES

ROYAL INTEREST. A PAIR OF REGENCY PAINTED OAK BOOKCASES

EARLY 19TH CENTURY AND LATER, RE-CONSTRUCTED AND LATER PAINTED

each with a detachable cornice above a pair of gilt brass lattice grille doors enclosing adjustable shelves with a printed paper label with initial 'M' below a coronet and 'Kensington Palace' (2)

213.2cm high, 146cm wide, 40.3cm deep

Provenance

The contents of The Grange, Wendover.

Christie's, Silver, Furniture and Works of Art from the Collection of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, 14th June 2006, lot 584.

Catalogue Note

Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773-1843) and the fourth son of George III, lived at Kensington Palace from 1806 until 1843 and almost certainly commissioned these bookcases. They were originally fitted to house some of his collection of 50,000 books - at that time regarded as one of the most important private libraries in England. They were later dismantled and reconstructed as free-standing bookcases by Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria, who lived in Kensington Palace until 1940.