Chatsworth House, near Bakewell, Derbyshire.
One of the countries most renowned and loved historic houses, Chatsworth is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Passed down through 16 generations it has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549. The house architecture and the collection reflects this period of time of the taste of its occupants.
Visitors may recognise Chatsworth from TV and Film, it was used as Mr Darcy’s residence ‘Pemberley’ in the 2005 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and again in the BBC’s Death Comes to Pemberley. It is thought that Jane Austen visited Chatsworth whilst she wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice in Bakewell.
George II State Bed and Bed Chamber
Humphries Weaving worked closely on the important restoration of the George II State Bed, with the house curator, to reproduce fabric for the George II State Bed.
Pure silk damask in crimson and gold for the refurbishment of the George II State Bed and State Bedroom window drapes. The fabric is also used for a curtain treatment in the adjoining State Closet. The design was narrow woven and redrawn from the existing early 18th Century bed furnishings. At first thought to be unique to the house the design was also uncovered on the Normanton Bed at Buscot Park.
The colour matching had to be considerate to the faded glory of the original tones which were well preserved in the folds of the bed drapes, but very bleached by the sun in exposed areas. The challenge was to tone in with the best of the original in such a way that the new and old would compliment each other, as much of the bed was conserved rather than replaced.
Project reference: 2034
An article by Annabel Westman about the research into the restoration ‘A Royal Bed at Chatsworth‘ was published by, Apollo: The International Magazine for Collectors;Jun2008, Vol. 167 Issue 555, p68.
Great Dining Room
Chinoiserie trailing floral design for fabric used for curtain treatment in the Great Dining Room.
Pure silk tissue on a crimson ground with a multi-coloured floral Chinoiserie trailing design. The Design was re drawn by the Humphries Weaving studio from original textile documents from the house and is used in the Great Dining Room; pictured here as curtains. The fabric is also used in one of the private bedrooms in the house. There is a yellow ground version of the same design.
Project reference: 2213
The Family Library
Silk tissue fabric for re-upholstery of the library furniture suite
In 2013 Humphries Weaving recreated an original narrow woven pure silk tissue fabric for re-upholstery of the library furniture suite. The suite is attributed to Morel and Hughes and was brought to Chatsworth from the Saloon at Devonshire House. The furniture can be seen illustrated in a William Henry Hunt watercolour dated 1822.
The three colour tissue is a delicate balance of the original; between the vivid shades of turquoise and gold tucked under a seam and the more muted tones that were on show. The fabric design was accurately redrawn from the original document and comprises acanthus leaves and floral decoration.
Access to the library is not available to the public in the procession of rooms but can be viewed from the doorway. The room was used as a filming location in series two of the BBC drama ‘Peaky Blinders’.
Project reference: 2256
Suite of Dining Chairs
Re upholstery of a suite of 18th Century Dining Chairs.
Re upholstery of a suite of early 18th Century Dining Chairs, the fabric chosen was a narrow woven pure silk damask in crimson. The design was taken from an early 18th Century pattern found on the dining chairs under several layers of coverings and was redrawn by the Humphries Weaving studio.
Project reference: 2114
Also a glazed crimson Tammy in pure worsted and custom dyed to match the damask on the above chairs. The cloth was used for the reverse of the chair backs.
Project reference: 2116 / 2157
The design for the damask can also be found on the Brympton Bed (now in USA) from which the HWC drawing was taken, and fragments of the same pattern are on a bed at Hardwick House (National Trust).
The China Closet
Furnishings for the China Closet.
A sage green silk and cotton damask was supplied for furnishings in the China Closet. There is a similar design held in the Warner Textile Archive.
Project reference: 1357
The Green Satin Bedroom
Watered stripe for the Green Satin Bedroom.
Deep green and silver narrow woven watered silk and linen taboret stripe used for walling and window drapes for the bedroom and adjoining dressing room. In addition, the fabric has been used for Window drapes in the Guest Apartments.
Project reference: 1532
The Sabine Room
Pure Silk Damask for Sofa Restoration and Window Drapes.
Once a lobby then a bedroom, the Sabine Room at Chatsworth House is home to a to a continuous wall and ceiling painted mural by Sir James Thornhill depicting “The Rape of the Sabine Woman”. The room was restored as part of the £32.7 million Chatsworth Masterplan, spanning from 2005 to 2018.
Humphries Weaving were called upon by renowned interior decorator, David Mlinaric to develop a suitable shade and design for the period of the room. A similar colour was chosen for the British Embassy, Paris. The design can be found in a number of grand British properties including Spencer House and Valentines Mansion.
The pure silk damask was used in the re-presentation of the room and can be seen used as window drapes as well as for a sofa restoration.
Project Reference: 2377
