Beschreibung:

“Belgravia” A fine example of a three storey wooden Townhouse, English c. 1850, fully furnished to a high standard with contents mostly dating from 1850-60. The Exterior: The facade is painted white, two steps leading to a black painted front door with a brass lion head knocker, flanked by pillars supporting small portico and moulded mock fan light. The house has fourteen windows, a Doric colonnade with urn finials at first-floor level and Doric pilasters at the second floor. The flat roof is concealed by a cornice. The facade opens off centre in two wings, to reveal six rooms, a hall and two landings. Hall and Landings: The gold and brown wallpaper runs the full height of the house and the steep staircase has wooden banisters and hand rail and a Paisley carpet, each floor has two doors leading to the adjacent rooms. The back wall has two arched stained glass windows, one of which has gilt metal bars. A gold painted pewter gong stands in the hall, together with an umbrella stand. A gilt framed picture hangs on the wall and a light with milk glass shade hangs from the ceiling. Two dolls, a bisque-headed maid and a child, descend the stairs. Ground Floor – Dining Room: The walls have red-striped paper, and there is a maroon floor covering,a gold fringed red velvet curtain and pelmet hang at the window. The furniture is mainly Waltershausen with gold transfer decorations, including a rosewood cabinet with turned bone shelf supports, a sideboard with arched mirror, six dining chairs and a mantle clock. Other furnishings include a fine light wood table, a gilt metal newspaper rack, a porcelain dinner service edged in gold and a selection of glassware. Ground Floor – Kitchen: The walls are covered with brown paper, the floor has a tile-effect. White cotton curtains hang at the window. Cook has been provided with a wooden dresser and table, a tinplate cooking stove, complete with various utensils, a hanging shelf, a wall clock, and a coal bucket. Composition food includes a plum pudding, toast in a rack, a joint of meat, bread and fruit. A superb painted wood doll, dressed in the style of a “Peeler” of the Victorian police force, converses with two glazed china dolls in original clothes, watched by the resident kitchen cat. First Floor – Drawing Room: The walls retain the original gold star decorated white wallpaper with a gold border, blue silk curtains with a pelmet and cream fringe cover the windows and a floral Berlin woolwork rug covers the floor. The Waltenshausen furniture includes a rosewood work table with a mirrored lid, complete with original sewing equipment, and a piano with sheet music. The upholstery of the Waltershausen sofa, two chairs and footstool has a rare bird and flower design in printed cotton, carefully designed to fit the shape of each piece. Other furniture includes a display cabinet with a large collection of miniature glass, a pewter music stand, a mirror, light fittings, and a silver tea service on a papier mach‚ and mother-o-pearl tea tray. Ornaments include an ornate mantle clock under a glass dome and eight framed pictures. Two bisque-headed dolls with painted features listen to their aunt playing the piano. First Floor – Bedroom: The wallpaper has an all-over rose pattern and a matching border, a dog lies on the green carpet. The window has rose-patterned cotton curtains and pelmet. The Waltershausen furniture includes a rose band bedroom suite with a half tester bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table and a marble topped washstand, and a table and chair. Ornaments include a painted turned wood toilette set with a ‘coral’ ring band, a prayer book and religious pictures. The room is lit by a pewter light fitting with a milk glass shade. A bisque headed maid with moulded hair in a bun wears original clothes and attends an invalid wearing original flannel night dress and a boy in a brown velvet suit. Second Floor – Night Nursery: The gold and white striped wallpaper has a white border, the floor has a white c