A George III Period Mahogany Fretwork Library or Centre Table
Marketplace
A George III Period Mahogany Fretwork Library or Centre Table
Penicuik House
Penicuik House was built in 1761 by Sir James Clerk, a wealthy Scottish landowner and merchant. Sir James’s brother John married Susannah Adam, daughter of William Adam and sister of Robert Adam, whom he consulted when building Penicuik House. One of the glories of the house was the ceiling painted by Alexander Runciman in the Saloon, inspired by James Macpherson’s Works of Ossian (the room was subsequently known as Ossian’s Hall). This was complimented by a comprehensive furnishing scheme commissioned by Sir James from tradesmen in Edinburgh but also including various pieces purchased by his agents, including Robert Adam, in Italy. One of the gilt Rococo mirrors made by James Thomson of Edinburgh for Ossian’s Hall was recently purchased by National Museums Scotland.
Tragedy struck Penicuik House on a Sunday in 1899 when the household was at church and a fire spread, all but destroying it. A significant amount of the contents were salvaged including this centre table and the family took the decision to relocate to the adjacent stable block, also a creation of Sir James. This gave them the distinction of being the first landed family to forsake their seat for the stable block and Lady Clerk, and her successors, created a house of huge charm. Features such as marble chimneypieces and joinery were salvaged from the main house together with much of the furniture and paintings and installed in the stable block to create one of the most romantic and beautiful interiors in Scotland.
Alexander Peter (1713-1772)
Alexander Peter was a Scottish cabinet maker, based in Edinburgh. He was responsible for one of the finest surviving collections of documented Scottish furniture and it is largely this on which his reputation and significance rests. Much of the furniture was supplied to the Earl of Dumfries to complement that made by Thomas Chippendale for Dumfries House, Ayrshire, as part of one of the most celebrated furniture commissions of the 18th century.
Penicuik House was built in 1761 by Sir James Clerk, a wealthy Scottish landowner and merchant. Sir James’s brother John married Susannah Adam, daughter of William Adam and sister of Robert Adam, whom he consulted when building Penicuik House. One of the glories of the house was the ceiling painted by Alexander Runciman in the Saloon, inspired by James Macpherson’s Works of Ossian (the room was subsequently known as Ossian’s Hall). This was complimented by a comprehensive furnishing scheme commissioned by Sir James from tradesmen in Edinburgh but also including various pieces purchased by his agents, including Robert Adam, in Italy. One of the gilt Rococo mirrors made by James Thomson of Edinburgh for Ossian’s Hall was recently purchased by National Museums Scotland.
Tragedy struck Penicuik House on a Sunday in 1899 when the household was at church and a fire spread, all but destroying it. A significant amount of the contents were salvaged including this centre table and the family took the decision to relocate to the adjacent stable block, also a creation of Sir James. This gave them the distinction of being the first landed family to forsake their seat for the stable block and Lady Clerk, and her successors, created a house of huge charm. Features such as marble chimneypieces and joinery were salvaged from the main house together with much of the furniture and paintings and installed in the stable block to create one of the most romantic and beautiful interiors in Scotland.
Alexander Peter (1713-1772)
Alexander Peter was a Scottish cabinet maker, based in Edinburgh. He was responsible for one of the finest surviving collections of documented Scottish furniture and it is largely this on which his reputation and significance rests. Much of the furniture was supplied to the Earl of Dumfries to complement that made by Thomas Chippendale for Dumfries House, Ayrshire, as part of one of the most celebrated furniture commissions of the 18th century.
Provenance: Sir James Clerk. 3rd Baronet of Penicuik, for Penicuik House in Scotland
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