Glossy Sunday newspaper magazines regularly have features on how individuals have restored a property authentically in sourcing, often at great expense the items of furniture, decor and fittings sympathetic to the original era.
A few make a very good living indeed in taking the money of those who have plenty of it and spending it on fitting out one or more houses that may or may not actually be occupied for any length of time.
Authenticity is the critical factor.
So what better as a reference point for how people lived in 1907 than an Auction Catalogue for what appears to be the entire contents, lock, stock and barrel of a large Lincolnshire town house from that very year.
The sale was over two days in November 1907 from a marquee in the grounds with the total of 831 individual lots allocated on a room to room basis as well as categorised into items including rich cut glass, electro-plate and cutlery, china, books, horse livery, garden and outside effects.
The Pre-Sale Announcements highlighted the more valuable, unusual and collectable lots numbering a Sheraton Mahogany Table, Axminster, Brussels and Kidderminster Carpets, a Concert standard Grand Piano by C. Bechstein, Davenport Dinner Service, Antiquarian Books and for that era a fashionable Brougham Carriage by Hart of London together with its rubber tyres, plated lamps and blue Morocco upholstery.
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| A Broom Broom Brougham |
The reason for the sale was not stated as for example to wind up a trust, settle a bankruptcy, to meet death duties, at the end of a lease on the house itself or upon emigration of the owners.
It is however the smaller, everyday items being offered for sale in the auction that are much more interesting in visualising the lifestyle of what may have been a typical Middle or Lower Upper Class household in 1907.
Unfortunately the sale catalogue is not one that has been annotated with the actual disposal prices but then again, I do not think that is as important as the items themselves.
The opening 54 lots are from the Front Kitchen with the very first being Linoleum, as laid about 14 square yards. This is followed by a kitchen fender and hearthrug, two wood buckets, Tin Steamer, Three enamelled handbasins, a Zinc soe (whatever that may be), five frying pans, tin oval fish kettle, Hughe's spring balance, a Ewbank carpet sweeper (the modern version is still on the market today), two clothes baskets and a rolling pin.
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| An antique Ewbank carpet sweeper (date not confirmed) |
It was evidently a well-to-do house as lots 55 onwards were from the Housemaid's Pantry with three square Japanese waiters (presumably items and not persons), mahogany knife box, duplex paraffin lamp, four Devon Ware ornaments, seven souffle dishes of fluted Foley china and an Invalid's cup on a tray.
The homeowners had an extensive cut glass collection for entertaining family and friends extending to eleven basket jelly glasses (perhaps one smashed being an odd number), twelve frosted ice plates, nine very old tall champagnes, six potted meat dishes and sundry specimen vases.
Amongst the china for sale were the main known names of Royal Crown Derby, Minton, Limoges,Oriental Ivory and Dresden.
Any gold and silver may have gone through specialist Auction Houses or to dealers as only electro-plate is listed for cutlery, gravy boats, toast racks, egg boilers,cake stands,a chop dish, and candelabras and more items by named manufacturers such as Mappin, Watts and Harton of London.
The Drawing Room appears to have been of modest size given the carpet dimensions of 16'4" by 12'2" imperial although the fashion of the day was to have a carpet square with a wood stained finished surround and so the room could actually have been a bit larger.
Plush was the theme from the Oriental hearthrug to a Black Skin rug and furnishings of a dark oak table, bamboo plant stand, Chesterfield suite, tapestry cushions, oak writing table, divan and rocking chairs, walnut card table, standard lamp, the Bechstein Grand Piano as mentioned as a notable lot, various ornaments on a classic theme, more vases and planters, framed oil paintings, a fine bracket clock by Thomas Power of Wellingborough and frilled muslin curtains in white.
The Entrance Hall was similarly grand and austere from light oak and mahogany furniture to a dinner gong and beater in a bamboo frame and various rugs including an opossum skin.
Practical items were a Milner brand fireproof safe and a circular barometer.
The Staircases and Halls were adorned with engravings and paintings on a country life theme although the house itself was in a Lincolnshire Market Town.
The further accommodation included a dining room, morning room, ante room and a housekeepers room on the ground floor, all fully carpeted, furnished and fitted.
The dining table in yet more mahogany comprised three loose leaves of 11 feet by 4 feet six inches and 12 chairs which would be enough for a good dinner party surrounded by a three tier whatnot, pedestal sideboard with cellarette and trays, 3 tier dinner wagon, a superior bookcase of around 40 square feet, a paraffin stove when the hearth was not lit and a "very good clock" by Henry Marc of Paris.
Ordinary family life in the Morning Room was quite informal with prettier carpets , a kneehole desk, brass ornaments, Indian gongs, an old cavalry sword and bayonet in a sheath, card table, various games including ping pong and draughts, easy chairs, photo frames and a pair of well known art union busts of ladies by C Delpech.
The Ante Room was more masculine in its furnishings, all mahogany , iron and copper with a Mirzapur carpet and blue felt. Seating was on a Chesterfield, corner suite and other easy chairs in view of an elephant tusk thermometer, newspaper rack and dragon feature candlesticks.
The second day of the sale in 1907 was for lots on the upper floors with a master bedroom, en suite and dressing room, three other bedrooms and two servants rooms.
The main bedroom in blue Kidderminster carpet of 15'2" by 12' as with most principal rooms of the era had a fireplace which was understandable in the pre-central heating era. Brass predominated from the fender to fireguard, companion set and coal bucket. Plumbing will also have been a bit primitive being confined to a washstand and "Esmond" toilet service and night commode. The bed of wire spring mattress measured 4 feet although this may be its height with a 5 drawer chest of drawers, Lady's wardrobe, walnut couch, work table and dressing table as the accompanying furniture.
Bedding was extravagant listed as two cushions, eiderdown coverlet, fine quality hair mattress, goose feather bolster, Witney blankets, White Marseilles quilt. a handsome duvet with sateen cover and blue satin bedspread.
Bedroom 2 evidently a guest suite reverted to a flock mattress, feather bolster and pillows, quilt and eider down but nevertheless was nicely furnished with the usual accoutrements of wardrobe, foot bath, rocking chair, arm chair, swing mirror, bookshelves, banner screen and chimney ornaments.
Bathrooms had linoleum flooring, hot water tins, night commode and a modesty screen in addition to any permanent fittings.
Other bedrooms were fitted out comfortably and modestly , one perhaps for an old or infirm family member with a hip bath, invalid food warmer and other aids.
Bedrooms of that era were places where considerable personal time was spent given the number of reclining chairs and embellishments of decoration.
Servant's quarters were more sparsely fitted out with a bed, linoluem to floors, small chest of drawers, wood chairs and sundry toilet ware. Bamboo replaced mahogany in such rooms.
The library contents took up lots 485 through to 542 on all manner of subjects. most recognisable being on religion, flora and fauna, rural agriculture and horticulture ,Modern Europe, works by Johnson, Sir Walter Scott, Tennyson, Dickens and Shakespeare.
Class issues were covered by bound copies of Punch Magazine and London Society, in fact a good, broad reference library for the informed.
Outside in the garden the Auction lots included greenhouse plants, pots, tubs, folding chairs (eight), tools, a hammock, meat safe, portable water closet and three pairs of step ladders.
It would have been fascinating to have attended this sale, albeit only one of countless numbers for a hard pressed gentry class.
The lots are not just a rather sad and melancholy selling up of someones prized possessions but also a statement of the social classes and attitudes of that era, some 110 years in the past.
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