"Belgravia"A fine example of a three storey wooden Townhouse, English c. 1850, fully furnished to a high standard with contents mostly dating from 1850-60.The Exterior: The facade is painted white, two steps leading to a black painted front door with a brass lion head knocker, flanked by pillars supporting small portico and moulded mock fan light. The house has fourteen windows, a Doric colonnade with urn finials at first-floor level and Doric pilasters at the second floor. The flat roof is concealed by a cornice. The facade opens off centre in two wings, to reveal six rooms, a hall and two landings.Hall and Landings: The gold and brown wallpaper runs the full height of the house and the steep staircase has wooden banisters and hand rail and a Paisley carpet, each floor has two doors leading to the adjacent rooms. The back wall has two arched stained glass windows, one of which has gilt metal bars. A gold painted pewter gong stands in the hall, together with an umbrella stand. A gilt framed picture hangs on the wall and a light with milk glass shade hangs from the ceiling. Two dolls, a bisque-headed maid and a child, descend the stairs.Ground Floor - Dining Room: The walls have red-striped paper, and there is a maroon floor covering,a gold fringed red velvet curtain and pelmet hang at the window. The furniture is mainly Waltershausen with gold transfer decorations, including a rosewood cabinet with turned bone shelf supports, a sideboard with arched mirror, six dining chairs and a mantle clock. Other furnishings include a fine light wood table, a gilt metal newspaper rack, a porcelain dinner service edged in gold and a selection of glassware.Ground Floor - Kitchen: The walls are covered with brown paper, the floor has a tile-effect. White cotton curtains hang at the window. Cook has been provided with a wooden dresser and table, a tinplate cooking stove, complete with various utensils, a hanging shelf, a wall clock, and a coal bucket. Composition food includes a plum pudding, toast in a rack, a joint of meat, bread and fruit. A superb painted wood doll, dressed in the style of a "Peeler" of the Victorian police force, converses with two glazed china dolls in original clothes, watched by the resident kitchen cat.First Floor - Drawing Room: The walls retain the original gold star decorated white wallpaper with a gold border, blue silk curtains with a pelmet and cream fringe cover the windows and a floral Berlin woolwork rug covers the floor. The Waltenshausen furniture includes a rosewood work table with a mirrored lid, complete with original sewing equipment, and a piano with sheet music. The upholstery of the Waltershausen sofa, two chairs and footstool has a rare bird and flower design in printed cotton, carefully designed to fit the shape of each piece. Other furniture includes a display cabinet with a large collection of miniature glass, a pewter music stand, a mirror, light fittings, and a silver tea service on a papier maché and mother-o-pearl tea tray. Ornaments include an ornate mantle clock under a glass dome and eight framed pictures. Two bisque-headed dolls with painted features listen to their aunt playing the piano.First Floor - Bedroom: The wallpaper has an all-over rose pattern and a matching border, a dog lies on the green carpet. The window has rose-patterned cotton curtains and pelmet. The Waltershausen furniture includes a rose band bedroom suite with a half tester bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table and a marble topped washstand, and a table and chair. Ornaments include a painted turned wood toilette set with a 'coral' ring band, a prayer book and religious pictures. The room is lit by a pewter light fitting with a milk glass shade. A bisque headed maid with moulded hair in a bun wears original clothes and attends an invalid wearing original flannel night dress and a boy in a brown velvet suit.Second Floor - Night Nursery: The gold and white striped wallpaper has a white border, the floor has a white covering and green chintz curtains hang at the windows. Furnishings include two single beds, a cradle, a chest of drawers, a scrap work screen, and gilt pewter work basket with fabric bag, a mirror and a two piece lusterware bucket and basin. An old nanny watches over a baby in the cradle.Second Floor - Day Nursery: The pink and white striped wallpaper has a large floral border, floral patterned cotton curtains with a fringe and pelmet hang at the window. The fireplace has a brass guard. The furnishings include a painted wooden table, a hanging bookshelf, an assortment of chairs, two wall clocks and a pewter treadle sewing machine. A glazed china nurse maid looks after a babe-in-arms and parian twins.Dimensions:Overall: 44" high x 34" wide x 18" deep (112cms x 86cms x 47cms).Rooms: 12" w x 14" d (31.5cms x 35.5cms) except Hall and Landings, 6 1/2" w x 14" deep (16.5cms x 35.5cms), ground floor 14" (36cms), first floor 14 1/2" (35.8cms), second floor 12 1/2" (31.7cms). Condition: Minor damage to dolls.Provenance: From the Vivien Greene Collection. This was the first house acquired by Vivien Greene in 1944, and has been painstakingly restored by her. It was previously called 'Exhibition Year.' Purchased at Bonham's Sale. December,1998.The proceeds from the sale of this lot are being distributed to various Children's charities.
