The crimson damask bed in the State Bedchamber was originally made for King George II. After the King’s death, the 4th Duke of Devonshire claimed the bed as a perk of his role as Lord Chamberlain. The bed moved from Kensington Palace to the Duke’s London residence, Devonshire House in 1761.
The bed is a Queen Anne upholstered tester bed, which has a canopy and curtains to give the person sleeping in it privacy and warmth. It is likely the bed once had finials, one each on the canopy corners, the sole survivor of which is mounted on the headboard.
Conserved in 2007, the bed was raised to its previous height and past repairs now considered inappropriate were undone. During conservation, the bed fabric, which dates from 1710, was stabilised to help protect from future damage. The fabric is crimson and yellow damask silk, woven with giant flowering plants, stylised pomegranates, buds and scrolling leaves.
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Other furniture in the Collection
King George III & Queen Charlotte Coronation thrones
Catherine Naish (d. 1772), circa. 1761
Counterpart
Tom Price (born 1973); Resin bench: polyester resin, polyurethane resin, tar, acrylic, LEDs; Coal bench: coal, PVA, jesmonite, MDF, steel; 2014-15
Enignum II chairs
Joseph Walsh (born 1979), olive, ash and suede, 2014
George II giltwood armchairs
William Kent (1685-1748), c.1730
Roentgen desk
David Roentgen, 1780-85
Joris Laarman bench
Joris Laarman, 2020
