Glass Decanter and Glasses

Details

Date

1850

Author / Artist

Dimensions

11.5cm

Material

Crystal

Catalogue number

HBT.58.1-5

Current location

Museum

Set of monogrammed glass comprising a decanter, two sherry glasses, two hock/port glasses and a whiskey tumbler. (Hock glasses in Museum Jan 2022)

Seal

Details

Date

19th century

Author / Artist

Dimensions

8.5cm

Material

Gold, amber glass

Catalogue number

HBT.63

Current location

Archives

Fine wax seal stamp belonging to the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos. (Amber handled and gilt mounting).

Collection of Framed Wallpapers

Details

Date

1770s

Author / Artist

Unknown

Dimensions

Various

Material

Wallpaper

Catalogue number

SHPT.22

Current location

Japan Room

Collection of framed wallpaper, late 18th century, with substantial repairs: House portrait (of Avington Park), within ribbon-tied branches, 160cm x 90cm; chinoiserie design with twisted branches and songbirds, 178cm x 104cm; related design laurel branch with a parrot and other birds, 140cm x 125cm; four related designs amongst branches, 260cm x 65cm; four narrow designs with birds amongst branches 260cm by 32cm.

Avington House near Winchester, Hampshire was redesigned in the late 18th century by the courtier James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chandos. The estate then descended to the duke’s only surviving daughter, Lady Anne Elizabeth Brydges (1779-1835), who married Richard Temple-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.

It is conceivable that the wallpaper was commissioned for Stowe, the house portrait ‘panel’ – which is presented tromp l’oeil as though a framed painting – being a reminder of lady Anne’s family home and noble lineage. However, it is popssible that the paper hangings were removed from Avington House and re-hung at Stowe. The designs are consistent with the prevailing fashion of the 1770’s and 1780’s. At that time the 3rd Duke was improving the house, gardens and parkland at Avington.

Bronze Bust of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire Baron Cheshire

Details

Date

1995

Author / Artist

David Wynne

Dimensions

Bronze 61 cm Overall height 188cm (incl. stone plinth)

Material

Bronze

Catalogue number

SS.28

Current location

Outside Chapel

Bronze bust of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire Baron Cheshire VC.OM,DSO,DFC, on an inscribed triform stone plinth.

Marine Venus

Details

Date

2023

Author / Artist

Dimensions

132cm high

Material

Jesmonite

Catalogue number

SHPT.11

Current location

Music Room

After the Antique, Marine Venus, contemporary. The original Roman statue was excavated and brought back from the Baths of Caracalla in Rome by the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, while on his Grand Tour in 1827.
Offered in the Stowe sale of 1848 (Lot 697) the piece was purchased on behalf of the Queen as a gift for Prince Albert. The piece remains
in the Royal Collection at Osborne House.
The copy was made by Cliveden Conservation having undertaken a 3D laser and photogrammetric scans of the original.

Laocoön

Details

Date

2019

Author / Artist

Dimensions

134cm wide by 60cm deep by 220cm high

Material

Bronze

Catalogue number

SHPT.18

Current location

North Hall

After the Antique, Laocoön, recast from the historic Stowe Laocoön, contemporary bronze, on a porphyry effect plinth.
A replica, commissioned from Rupert Harris Conservation studio and foundry, of the early 19th century version that stood in North Hall, purchased by the 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos from the infamous Fonthill Abbey sale in 1823. The work was subsequently sold in the Stowe sale of 1848: “…the truly grand bronze, by Carbonneaux, of the celebrated group of the Laocoön, the size of the original antique, from its merits and size, attracting great competition. It is one of the finest bronzes in the kingdom. On last Monday’s sale it was put up at 150 guineas, and
the biddings quickly reached to 400… after much excitement, Mr. Hume secured it at the sum of 540 guineas. It is believed to be purchased for the Duke of Hamilton.” (Illustrated London News). The bronze version was based on the original, marble statue that was believed to have stood in the Palace of Titus, attributed by Pliny the Elder, to the Rhodian sculptors Agesander, Athenodoros, and Polydorus. It was famously re-discovered in January 1506 buried, in the grounds of a vineyard in Rome and put on public display at the Vatican, where it remains.
The statue depicts Laocoön, a priest of Troy, with his two sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus, being crushed to death by sea serpents sent by the gods, after Laocoön attempts to expose the ruse of the Trojan horse by striking it with a spear, claiming, “I fear Greeks, even those bearing gifts”.

Diaries of Richard, Duke of Buckingham and Chandos

Details

Date

1862

Author / Artist

Hurst & Blackett

Dimensions

Material

Half-calf binding, book

Catalogue number

HBT.59

Current location

Archives

Private Diary of Richard, Duke of Buckingham and Chandos K.G. in three volumes, published in 1862 by Hurst and Blackett (each vol 9″ x 5″ ) (duplicate set held).

Settee

Details

Date

c1810

Author / Artist

Dimensions

195cm by 96cm

Material

Brocade, wood

Catalogue number

SS.17

Current location

Gothic Library anti-room

A settee. George III, circa 1810, upholstered in red floral brocade and upon three ring-turned and painted legs.

Silver Baby’s Rattle

Details

Date

Late-18th century

Author / Artist

William Eley?

Dimensions

15.5cm

Material

Gilt metal/ silver

Catalogue number

HBT.57

Current location

Archives

Silver baby’s rattle probably late 18th-century with whistle built into the handle.

Pair of Busts of Bacon and Newton

Details

Date

Author / Artist

Dominico Brucciani

Dimensions

42cm

Material

Plaster

Catalogue number

SS.19.1-2

Current location

Museum

Plaster copies of busts of Bacon and Newton. On titled plinths formed from books.