Belatedly, Chatsworth - the grounds

As we made our way across to the beautiful grounds, we walked through a small formal garden, and this was the first rose I saw, David Austin's Tuscany Superb.  It is so beautiful, and I bought myself one today . . .  As you do!  It is a Gallica rose, and one of the few bred in the UK (according to the DA catalogue.)

Another DA rose - I shall have to look it up.  Very pretty with that white eye.

The wild flower Nettle Leaved Bellflower.  The last time I saw this growing anywhere was well over 30 years ago on a day out in Gloucestershire.  There was a lot of it growing in the woodland margins.

Around many of the trees - dead or still growing (this looks like a dead Sweet Chestnut tree) - this rose - Kiftsgate I believe - was growing.  It looked stunning in all settings.

This was the shell grotto - but I think all the shells had long gone.

Everlasting (perennial) Sweet Pea.  We used to have this in the garden where I grew up.

This was one of the fountains at the top of a long flight of the stepped water feature.

An absolutely huge woven willow sculpture.

I can't remember what this fountain was called - probably water lily or something - but very cleverly made, with the petals dropping down and closing up afterwards.

Sweet Williams, with their wonderful clove scent.  One of mum's favourites, and mine too.  This was the start of the Kitchen Garden - more photos of that tomorrow.

Chatsworth Part II

Gird up your loins!  Another photo-heavy tour of the Chatsworth interior.  I rather like this photo I took of some of the lovely plates at Chatsworth.  Quite atmospheric.  I would LOVE these on my dresser : )

This tea service was just so genteel and delicate.  Possibly Meissen (though what do I know?!)  It's more likely to be Derby, although none of the later heavy gold patterning.

The Library, which had a rope across so you couldn't go in.  Looking at that gorgeous carpet, I'm not surprised.

This is another seat from the Exhibition, based on an 18th C salon chair.  Different . . . and at least in keeping with the history of the house.  Unlike SOME in this exhibition!

I spent ages looking at these incredible sculptures.  You felt they would come alive at any minute.  I presume they are black marble (from Belgium?).  They were just so beautiful.

Some of these photos are slightly fuzzy, as I would just have to point and click to avoid getting someone in it - as it happens, there's someone in the background, but that's better than the back of someone's head!!  Anyway, a beautiful bed and that fabulous wallpaper.  I weakened in the gift shop and bought myself a teatowel in that design.

There were many wonderful paintings, but this one (I don't know the artist I'm afraid), was just SO atmospheric.  I wonder if it was a Dutch Master who painted it, from the use of the light and the composition.

Another fuzzy bed, but isn't it beautiful?  More amazing wallpaper too.

"Prinny"  - who became King George IV.  This is probably his Coronation picture in fact, with the crown on the table.  I

I just loved this vase (or a Japanese brush pot perhaps?) and the wallpaper behind it gives a close up of one of the birds which inhabited all the wallpapers in the house.

I could resist taking a photo of this chap.  He looks like a rather different take on Buddha . . .

I just HAD to take a photo of this incredible piece of furniture for my OH.  Ebony and mahogany? I would think, and describe it as an Armoire.

Blue John was mined in Derbyshire - there are Blue John Mines open to the public near Castleton.  Back in the day, there were chunks big enough to make wonderful goblets and chalices like this.  Now there are just small chips and slivers used for jewellery.  I have a pendant and a beautiful pair of earrings made from it, and a teaspoon.  Mine is the plain purple/lilac/white colour combination, but here there is a lovely amber colouring (shown by the light inside the one on the right).

I know my husband well, and know he would LOVE something like this - AND a house big enough to display it!  A wee bit OTT for my tastes . . .

I loved this pair of lions and the expressions on their faces.  The one above looks like he has a hangover!

This wee dog was part of a bigger sculpture.  He looks like a Pharoah Hound with those ears, but was probably an alert Whippet.

Above and below: Finally, some modern art I actually LIKED.  Plus they were in an area where they fitted in (the gallery with the wonderful alabaster sculptures).  I loved the organic way the legs flowed into the ground, and the design reminded me of the 60s, and also patchwork quilt designs. The top one was my favourite.

Over the weekend I will try and fit in some photos of the grounds.

A Day out at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

I am back from my travels, and as you can see, I went to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, with our eldest daughter, who proceeded to walk the feet off me in the grounds.    Here you can see the front of the house, with the fabulous gold window surrounds - I presume gold leaf.  The house has belonged to the Earls of Devonshire for generations, and Bess of Hardwick, who was married to Sir William Cavendish, completed the building he had started back in 1552.  Her son Henry Cavendish sold it to his brother William, who became the first Earl of Devonshire.  The Elizabethan house became swallowed up within the Classical style exterior, as you see it today.  The Wikipedia entry provides a great deal more information.

The Emporor fountain is run by gravity, and can shoot 90 feet up into the air.  It was built when there was an anticipated visit by Tsar Nicholas 1 of Russia in 1843, and men worked day and night to complete it in time.  Unfortunately, the Tsar died before the visit took place.

Incredible paintings are everywhere.  This one is at the top of the staircase in what is known as the Painted Room, which has wonderful artwork everywhere by Louis Lageurre, showing scenes from the life of Julius Caesar.

In a nearby corridor are many examples of wonderful semi-precious geodes and rock specimens. This amethyst geode is huge, and even bigger is the huge piece of rock crystal? in the photograph below. You would expect this to have a big "vibe" but I picked up nothing from it.

More interesting pieces of geological specimens.

This room was very richly carved and the display cupboards above floor level, were full of Delft and lovely pieces of china.

Another stunning ceiling.  I could probably have done a post just about ceiling paintings!

Throughout the house are various pieces of modern craftsmanship.  This was a resin bench and the black areas were, if I remember rightly, tar, which I think partly dissolves the resin to form an internal shape. It's by Tom Price and there was an adjacent black block of coal.

Another of those ceilings - sorry it's not very sharp . . .

One of the incredibly imposing doorways.  The door was solid oak and the surround carved marble..

Photos from the State Apartments now, which apparently get more and more impressive the further in you are allowed to go.  These State rooms were designed and furnished in anticipation of a visit by William III, but again, that never transpired.

The marble fireplace in this first State room held wonderful Delft pieces for displaying Tulips, when Tulips were all the rage and could cost a King's Ransom.

Painted and gilded leather wallpaper in another apartment.  I think this was the Second Withdrawing room of the State Apartments - the Music Room.

This room became known as the Music Room after this amazing Trompe l'Oeil painting of a Violin was brought from Devonshire House in London.  This was painted around 1723 by Jan van der Vaart.

Further still into these apartments, and there were some stunning plates displayed, and other ceramics, with a background of intricate tapestries.

George II's wonderful State bed completely spoilt (for me) by the juxtaposition of this piece of contemporary design.by Marc Newson's  Lockheed Lounge, "the most expensive contemporary seat in the world today." Part of the "Make Yourself Comfortable" exhibition at Chatsworth this year.

More semi-precious pieces of agates were made into this amazing solid "stone" bureau.

Ever since the book and the subsequent film, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, is recognized from this portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds.  She was quite a lass in her day.

I am used to seeing tiny chips of malachite made into jewellery or sold as gemstones in shops.  To see this slab of  it  as a table top was amazing.  There were more examples of sclupted malachite below.

A rare photo of me taking a photo of this wee poodle.

Another table made from a selection of semi-precious stones.  My photo doesn't do it justice.

I have taken SO many photos and will have to end for today for fear of losing everything when I press publish!