Object Literature
Luton Hoo
Sir Julius Wernher, having amassed an immense fortune through the South African diamond trade, acquired Luton Hoo in 1903 to complement his London residence, Bath House on Piccadilly. Determined that the house should provide a suitably magnificent setting for his expanding collection of fine and decorative arts, he commissioned a complete remodelling of the Robert Adam-designed interiors by the architects of London’s Ritz Hotel. The result was an interior of notable opulence, conceived as a grand backdrop for a collection rivalled only by that of the Rothschild family in neighbouring Buckinghamshire.
At the time of his death, Wernher was counted among the wealthiest men in England, his fortune estimated at £12 million. A substantial memorial to him stands at the entrance to the Royal School of Mines in London, reflecting both his success and his philanthropic legacy. Today, a significant portion of his celebrated collection may be viewed at Ranger’s House in Greenwich.
Régence Prototypes
Based on earlier 18th century prototypes, when famous makers such as Foliot were supplying furniture to King Louis XV, this set exemplifies the gradual introduction of curves, elegance, and rococo detail into fashionable seating furniture. They are stylistically related to a set of twelve caned beech chairs made for the King’s Dining Room at the Chateau de Compiegne in 1739.
Born into a family of master carpenters and sculptors, Nicolas Quinibert Foliot (1706-1776) is known today as one of the most innovative craftsmen of his time. His workshop was undoubtedly one of the most prosperous and remarkably long-lasting for the 18th century, remaining active for nearly forty years. For much of his career, he supplied the most prominent figures at the French court, furnishing the palaces of Versailles, Compiègne, and Fontainebleau. He earned the prestigious title of Cabinetmaker to the Royal Furniture Repository.
