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Lot Essay
It is unusual for an early 19th century Axminster carpet to have a tone on tone design with a single repeat motif as most period Axminster carpets employ polychrome colors and a variety of design schemes. The scrolling acanthus leaves in shades of pink on a camel field recall the field motif of a Regency Axminster Carpet commissioned for 19 Arlington Street, London by the Dundas family (Christie’s, London, 5 July 2000, lot 163).
THE HISTORY OF HOLYROODHOUSE
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. The impressive home is one of the most esteemed residences in Scotland and holds close associations with its most historic figures. It stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle. It was built on the grounds of Holyrood Abbey, dating from the 12th century. Between 1501 and 1505, James IV constructed the first iteration of the palace, adjacent to the abbey and the site of the first royal apartments dating to the late 15th century. Mary Queen of Scots resided in the north-west tower of the palace from the her return to Scotland in 1561 to her forced abdication of the throne in 1567. When James became King of England in 1603, the seat of the monarchy was moved to London, though the palace saw the coronation of Charles I in 1633. After the Stuart Restoration in 1660, the Privy Council of Scotland was re-instated and once again held assembly at Holyroodhouse, and sourced capital to redesign the apartments in the 1670s. Following the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, the palace lost most of its main functionality and simply remained as noble residence including for the Dukes of Hamilton. During the Jacobite Rising, Holyroodhouse was briefly occupied by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Later, George III allowed Louis XVI’s brother, the Comte d’Artois, to take refuge in the Palace between 1796 to 1803, and again from 1830-32. King George IV paid a visit in 1822 as the first reigning monarch since Charles I two hundred years earlier. It was not until 1834 when William IV allowed the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to gather in the palace that it resumed official palatial duties. Further renovations commenced in 1850 in anticipation of Queen Victoria’s visit, and included the redecoration of the interiors by David Ramsay Hay. In 1854, the historic apartments in the north-west tower were opened to the public for viewing, and by 1871, Queen Victoria once again took residence select apartments of the palace alongside the Dukes of Hamilton and various members of nobility. George V undertook further renovations, bringing the palace into the 20th century, and in the 1920’s the palace was designated as the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.
THE DUKES OF HAMILTON
In 1636, the King promoted James, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, to the 1st Duke of Hamilton and was made hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse. In 1648, he led a Scottish army into England in support of Charles I, but was defeated and later executed in March of 1649. His brother William succeeded as 2nd Duke of Hamilton while in exile in Holland, and was killed in 1651 during the battle of Worcester as a member of the Scottish army. This left Lady Anne, the eldest daughter of the first Duke, as the sole heiress. Under the liberal rules of the Dukedom of Hamilton, it specified that a woman may serve as successor in the absence of male heirs and she became the 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, shortly before her marriage to Lord William Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. Her husband’s lineage included the notable lordship of Abernathy, an ancient ecclesiastical and royal site in Perthshire. This brought with it the hereditary title of Bearer of the Crown of Scotland. The family’s exalted status prompted Duchess Anne to commission architect James Smith to undertake a major renovation of the residence in Lanarkshire, erecting which became known as Hamilton Palace, between 1684 to 1701. The Palace of Holyroodhouse remains a pivotal and historic part of the Hamilton peerage and the British monarchy, and these important titles are still retained by the Duke of Hamilton today.
THE HISTORY OF HOLYROODHOUSE
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland. The impressive home is one of the most esteemed residences in Scotland and holds close associations with its most historic figures. It stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end of Edinburgh Castle. It was built on the grounds of Holyrood Abbey, dating from the 12th century. Between 1501 and 1505, James IV constructed the first iteration of the palace, adjacent to the abbey and the site of the first royal apartments dating to the late 15th century. Mary Queen of Scots resided in the north-west tower of the palace from the her return to Scotland in 1561 to her forced abdication of the throne in 1567. When James became King of England in 1603, the seat of the monarchy was moved to London, though the palace saw the coronation of Charles I in 1633. After the Stuart Restoration in 1660, the Privy Council of Scotland was re-instated and once again held assembly at Holyroodhouse, and sourced capital to redesign the apartments in the 1670s. Following the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, the palace lost most of its main functionality and simply remained as noble residence including for the Dukes of Hamilton. During the Jacobite Rising, Holyroodhouse was briefly occupied by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Later, George III allowed Louis XVI’s brother, the Comte d’Artois, to take refuge in the Palace between 1796 to 1803, and again from 1830-32. King George IV paid a visit in 1822 as the first reigning monarch since Charles I two hundred years earlier. It was not until 1834 when William IV allowed the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to gather in the palace that it resumed official palatial duties. Further renovations commenced in 1850 in anticipation of Queen Victoria’s visit, and included the redecoration of the interiors by David Ramsay Hay. In 1854, the historic apartments in the north-west tower were opened to the public for viewing, and by 1871, Queen Victoria once again took residence select apartments of the palace alongside the Dukes of Hamilton and various members of nobility. George V undertook further renovations, bringing the palace into the 20th century, and in the 1920’s the palace was designated as the monarch’s official residence in Scotland.
THE DUKES OF HAMILTON
In 1636, the King promoted James, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, to the 1st Duke of Hamilton and was made hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse. In 1648, he led a Scottish army into England in support of Charles I, but was defeated and later executed in March of 1649. His brother William succeeded as 2nd Duke of Hamilton while in exile in Holland, and was killed in 1651 during the battle of Worcester as a member of the Scottish army. This left Lady Anne, the eldest daughter of the first Duke, as the sole heiress. Under the liberal rules of the Dukedom of Hamilton, it specified that a woman may serve as successor in the absence of male heirs and she became the 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, shortly before her marriage to Lord William Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. Her husband’s lineage included the notable lordship of Abernathy, an ancient ecclesiastical and royal site in Perthshire. This brought with it the hereditary title of Bearer of the Crown of Scotland. The family’s exalted status prompted Duchess Anne to commission architect James Smith to undertake a major renovation of the residence in Lanarkshire, erecting which became known as Hamilton Palace, between 1684 to 1701. The Palace of Holyroodhouse remains a pivotal and historic part of the Hamilton peerage and the British monarchy, and these important titles are still retained by the Duke of Hamilton today.