State Beds and Throne Canopies

This richly illustrated volume focuses on the history, care, and conservation of the state beds and throne canopies at Hampton Court and Kensington Palaces. Combining historical context with practical conservation guidelines and case studies, it offers invaluable insights into the preservation of these rare court furnishings. A key reference for conservators, curators, collection managers, and cultural heritage professionals. Published in association with Historic Royal Palaces.

State Beds and Throne Canopies: Care and Conservation is the first publication to concentrate solely on state beds and throne canopies in England, covering not only their historical and stylistic developments and the role that they played in the theatre of courtly ritual, but more importantly focusing on the surviving objects themselves and the care they now receive. The specific subjects of this book are the state beds and throne canopies at Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace. Different in style, construction and hangings, they reflect the changing times, circumstances, court use and character of their owners. Increasingly rare, they pose problems of access, conservation treatment and financial provision. Practical guidelines are provided for conservation approaches, with short case history summaries that bring together knowledge and experience gained from working in a unique situation with an unparalleled collection of court furnishings. The information accrued and the strategies that have evolved to cope with these rare objects are outlined. For more than 20 years Val Davies has been responsible for the conservation management of these extraordinary, large-scale, multimedia furnishings at the Textile Conservation Studio, Hampton Court Palace. In addition to working closely with the Royal Collection, her work has encompassed similar beds and canopies, both in England and abroad, and she has been consulted by conservators and curators from such establishments as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Trust and English Heritage. Containing a vast amount of detail not found elsewhere, this lavishly illustrated work is a valuable reference not only to conservators, but also to owners, curators and collection managers who may not have access to specialist advice ‘in house’, and to a wider audience of all those with an interest in culutral heritage and in preserving it for future generations to enjoy. Published in association with Historic Royal Palaces

List of illustrations Preface Foreword by Sir Hugh Roberts Acknowledgements Terminology and glossary Introduction to state beds and throne canopies State beds and throne canopies at Hampton Court Palace &
Kensington Palace Queen Mary of Modena's Bed, 1650 etc. King William III's State Bed, c 1690-99 The King's Privy Throne Chamber Canopy, 1700 The King's Presence Throne Chamber Canopy, 1700 Queen Anne's State Bed, 1714-15 Queen Caroline's State Bed, 1715 The Queen's Audience Throne Chamber Canopy, 1715 King George II's Travelling Bed, 1714-27 The Raynham Hall Bed, 1713-30 Queen Charlotte's State Bed, 1772-78 Inspection and cleaning preparation Cleaning practice Documentation and sampling Textile surveys and audits Dismantling Storage Installation Bedstock and structure Passementerie Mattresses and bolsters Insect damage Emergencies and salvage operations Conservation Appendix Notes Suppliers Professional organisations Bibliography Index,

List of illustrations

Preface

Foreword by Sir Hugh Roberts

Acknowledgements

Terminology and glossary

Introduction to state beds and throne canopies

State beds and throne canopies at Hampton Court Palace & Kensington Palace

Queen Mary of Modena's Bed, 1650 etc.

King William III's State Bed, c 1690-99

The King's Privy Throne Chamber Canopy, 1700

The King's Presence Throne Chamber Canopy, 1700

Queen Anne's State Bed, 1714-15

Queen Caroline's State Bed, 1715

The Queen's Audience Throne Chamber Canopy, 1715

King George II's Travelling Bed, 1714-27

The Raynham Hall Bed, 1713-30

Queen Charlotte's State Bed, 1772-78

Inspection and cleaning preparation

Cleaning practice

Documentation and sampling

Textile surveys and audits

Dismantling

Storage

Installation

Bedstock and structure

Passementerie

Mattresses and bolsters

Insect damage

Emergencies and salvage operations

Conservation

Appendix

Notes

Suppliers

Professional organisations

Bibliography

Index

• By (author) Val Davies

"I have very much enjoyed this book and think it should be included in the reference libraries used by collections care managers, custodians and conservators. There is very little written on state beds and throne canopies, and this is an excellent introduction for both the professional and casual reader." Studies in Conservation 50(3) (2005) 238
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I have very much enjoyed this book and think it should be included in the reference libraries used by collections care managers, custodians and conservators. There is very little written on state beds and throne canopies, and this is an excellent introduction for both the professional and casual reader.

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