| The ceiling is painted ’in
the form of a sky spaced with four triangular panels
resplendent with a wealth of horticultural and floricultural
specimens’. The frieze includes a series of medallions
containing classical busts, linked with festoons and
true lover’s knots painted in French white and
gold on a silver grey ground which contrasts with the
rich pink of the Rose Du Barry cove. The walls are plain
pale grey.
The room was originally furnished with masses of heavily
upholstered ebony and satinwood armchairs, occasional
chairs and settees and other furniture including a Lipp
upright grand piano. There were also five magnificent
satinwood display cabinets one of which now lives at
the NGVI. This has been identified as part of the original
furnishings by Terrence Lane of the NGV.
The original satinwood overmantel decorated with gothic
panels and a hand painted coved recess painted with
a scene from Midsummer’s Night Dream with side
panels hand painted with figures representing Romeo
and Juliet was recognised in a shop in Canterbury by
Terrence Lane of the NGV and purchased for return to
its original home.
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