No. 10 Downing Street

No. 10 Downing Street, London.

10 Downing Street, the locale of British prime ministers since 1735, vies with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. Behind its black door have been taken the most important decisions affecting Britain for the last 275 years.

The building is much larger than it appears from its frontage. The hall with the chequered floor immediately behind the front door lets on to a warren of rooms and staircases. The house in Downing Street was joined to a more spacious and elegant building behind it in the early 18th century. Number 10 has also spread itself out to the left of the front door, and has taken over much of 12 Downing Street, which is accessed by a corridor that runs through 11 Downing Street – the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Clare Spot, Cotton & Silk

Furniture Gifts in celebration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee

Chippendale Suite of Furniture.

Rose coloured silk and cotton damask used to reupholster a Chippendale suite of seat furniture. This suite was then copied on behalf of H.M The Queen in celebration of her Silver Jubilee and gifted to heads of state.  The first set in the reproduction was presented to President Jimmy Carter for use in the Oval Office in The White House.

The design is also used in a smaller scale at St James’s Palace (Royal Collection) and another version can be seen in the Warner Textile Archive.

Project reference: 252

 

Press Interview Rooms

Gilt furniture upholstery in the press interview rooms.

Silk damask in green and straw used to cover a suite of Gilt furniture, used in the press interview rooms. The gilt chairs are used to seat the Prime Minister and visiting dignitaries during press conferences. There is another version of the late 18th Century design in the Warner Textile Archive first woven the early 20th Century. 

Project reference: 401

Prime Ministers Private Office

Window Drapes in the Prime Ministers Private Office.

Silk and cotton tissue in verdant green for festoon window drapes, with glazed narrow woven worsted tammy lining, for the Prime Minister’s private office

Project references: 2046 & 2041

Side Chairs in the Prime Ministers Private Office.

Silk and cotton tissue in mushroom with gold figuring for furniture upholstery. The fabric was used to cover fire side chairs and window seating overlooking Horseguards Parade, in the Prime Ministers private office.

Project reference: 2047

The Entrance Hall

Entrance Hall Window Drapes.

Cotton and worsted damask window drapes for the Entrance Hall in Crimson and gold with narrow glazed worsted tammy linings also in crimson.

Project references: 2065 & 2067

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