Lot Essay
Research shows the same model of chimneypiece at Syon House with Siena grounds originally in Northumberland House and documented as by Thomas Carter.
The Carter family was a family of sculptors who established themselves primarily as carvers of chimneypieces in the mid-eighteenth century. Initially founded by two older brothers, Thomas and Benjamin, who often worked together, the former was later replaced by his nephew and son-in-law Thomas Carter the Younger, who inherited the business upon the death of Thomas the Elder in 1756 and formed a more solid partnership with his uncle Benjamin.
The attribution of this chimneypiece to the Carter workshops stems from the surviving evidence of the re-building of Northumberland House from 1748 when the seventh Duke of Somerset employed Daniel Garrett to rebuild the North front. An account of the alterations is contained in a letter written by his wife to Lady Luxborough in June, 1749 which was reproduced in the Builder, on the 15th of April, 1871
The Duke of Somerset's account at Hoares bank records a payment to Carter of 187 pounds on June 2nd 1750 (Ledger U f13) and there is a further payment of 400 pounds on March 25th 1752 ( f438) whilst the Northumberland House Account Book records a payment on 23rd May 1757 to Mr Carter Chimney-pieces in full 292 pounds. These payments therefore probably relate to the new chimneypieces being made for the new apartments mentioned by Lady Luxborough.
The following letter was found behind the tablet when the chimneypiece was removed from Ponsonby Old Hall:
Ponsonby Old Hall
Calderbridge
Cumbria
CA20 1BX
Tel Beckermet 202
December 1980
This Adam marble fireplace was removed by the Trustees
of Pelham House (Ponsonby Hall) from the Drawing Room in 1940, stored for 4 years in the cellars until brought to the attention of John Peter Stanley, who acquired it from the Trustees and reassembled it in the Drawing Room of this House, for the benefit of future Stanleys if at anytime this house is sold the fireplace should be reserved for sale and advice taken for its disposal. At this moment of time the fireplace must be 200 years in age having first installed by George Edward Stanley approx 1780 in Ponsonby Hall, Calderbridge. The Georgian mansion we think was built under the supervision of the well known architect Mr Jack (James) Paine.
J.P. Stanley
brother to N.A. Stanley
of Daleganth and son of
Philip Stanley of Ponsonby
Hall died 1940.
6/12/81
The Carter family was a family of sculptors who established themselves primarily as carvers of chimneypieces in the mid-eighteenth century. Initially founded by two older brothers, Thomas and Benjamin, who often worked together, the former was later replaced by his nephew and son-in-law Thomas Carter the Younger, who inherited the business upon the death of Thomas the Elder in 1756 and formed a more solid partnership with his uncle Benjamin.
The attribution of this chimneypiece to the Carter workshops stems from the surviving evidence of the re-building of Northumberland House from 1748 when the seventh Duke of Somerset employed Daniel Garrett to rebuild the North front. An account of the alterations is contained in a letter written by his wife to Lady Luxborough in June, 1749 which was reproduced in the Builder, on the 15th of April, 1871
The Duke of Somerset's account at Hoares bank records a payment to Carter of 187 pounds on June 2nd 1750 (Ledger U f13) and there is a further payment of 400 pounds on March 25th 1752 ( f438) whilst the Northumberland House Account Book records a payment on 23rd May 1757 to Mr Carter Chimney-pieces in full 292 pounds. These payments therefore probably relate to the new chimneypieces being made for the new apartments mentioned by Lady Luxborough.
The following letter was found behind the tablet when the chimneypiece was removed from Ponsonby Old Hall:
Ponsonby Old Hall
Calderbridge
Cumbria
CA20 1BX
Tel Beckermet 202
December 1980
This Adam marble fireplace was removed by the Trustees
of Pelham House (Ponsonby Hall) from the Drawing Room in 1940, stored for 4 years in the cellars until brought to the attention of John Peter Stanley, who acquired it from the Trustees and reassembled it in the Drawing Room of this House, for the benefit of future Stanleys if at anytime this house is sold the fireplace should be reserved for sale and advice taken for its disposal. At this moment of time the fireplace must be 200 years in age having first installed by George Edward Stanley approx 1780 in Ponsonby Hall, Calderbridge. The Georgian mansion we think was built under the supervision of the well known architect Mr Jack (James) Paine.
J.P. Stanley
brother to N.A. Stanley
of Daleganth and son of
Philip Stanley of Ponsonby
Hall died 1940.
6/12/81