The Third State Room

In the Third Stateroom or King's State Bedroom, the painted ceiling, 'Venus and Mars caught by Vulcan' has an interesting optical effect. As you walk across the room, Venus seems to sit up on her couch.	Third State Room (The King's State Bedroom) Click for larger image
At the centre of the room is the State Bed, made of an unusually rich material - crimson silk damask brocaded in gold. The complexity of the weaving was a challenge to the conservators and added much to the work involved in preparing it for open display. Over the centuries the subtlety of the pattern has become hard to read, but it is observed that the brocading brilliantly exploits the figure of the damask; while the inside of the tester shows the skill of the upholsterer in the cutting of the material to make the design. The patience and skill of the restorers can also be seen in the newly restored finials, which are formed of the original feathers. The skirt is of ostrich feathers wired so that they curve, lashed on to a straw-covered stalk and dyed or tinted silver-grey; above them is a band of small black ostrich feathers from which sprouts a spire of white egret feathers. More information about the state bed at Boughton The Tapestries are English, Mortlake, Charles II period from the Acts of the Apostles set, "The Miraculous Draught of Fishes", "Healing the Lame Man" and "St Paul Preaching". The carpet is another in the collection of early 17th century textiles, indo-isfahan. The chairs are William and Mary period and retain their original fringed red velvet upholstery. The Boulle marriage coffer is Louis XIV and matches the two in the Great Hall. The portraits include two of Edward VI and a full length of Charles II as a boy.

Next Room	Home Page