Rococo Chimneypiece.
c. 1750.
attributed to Henry Cheere (d. 1781).
from Minto House.
Roxburghshire.
Dimensions 212 cms. x 155 cms. x 33 cms.
Sold by Lyon and Turnbull. 25 January 2017.
The chimneypiece was installed in the Octagonal Drawing Room
of Minto House, in Roxburghshire, by the decorators W. Turner Lord & Co.,
120 Mount Street following their estimate for works at Minto dated 18 September
1891.
The history of Minto House reads like a who's who of Scottish
architecture: the original 16th century tower was enclosed in a house designed
by William Adam circa 1740, expanded by Archibald Elliot at the beginning of
the 19th century, further altered by William Playfair in 1837, and finally
enlarged by Robert Lorimer at the end of the 19th century.
Its floorplan had an
unusual V shape, with two large blocks radiating out from a central axis
containing an entry hall, stair and octagonal drawing room.
Owned for several
centuries by the Elliott family and the Earls of Minto, the house, like many
houses throughout the country, suffered in the post-war years. From 1952-1966
it housed Craigmount School for girls, after which it sat empty and neglected,
slowly sliding into disrepair. Despite objections from historical authorities,
Minto House was demolished in 1992.
Photographs and text above lifted from Lyon and Turnbulls Website.
For the shamefull destruction of Minto see -
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http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1142848
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The Minto House Chimneypiece relocated to dealers Westland & Co
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