This stool and its pair, W.15-2009, formed part of the State Bedroom suite at Warwick Castle, where the bed, two elbow chairs and four other stools remain, together with one of a pair of settees that were made in the late 18th century to suit the newly created antiquarian interior. (The second settee was sold from the Castle at Sotheby's, London, 10 September 2007, lot 85.) The suite, (originally consisting of a bed, armchair and four stools), was supplied in 1701 or 1702 for William III’s Little Bedchamber at Hampton Court Palace, adapted and extended with another armchair and two more stools in 1703 for Queen Anne’s State Bedchamber at Kensington Palace, and with two additional settees at Warwick Castle, probably made for the second Earl of Warwick in the late 1770s, and with a Regency scheme of partial re-upholstery between c.1790 and c. 1820, most likely shortly before 1802 and again for the second Earl. The suite was restored when it was introduced to the state bedroom at Warwick Castle, around 1800. (Re-gilding of the frames probably dating from this time has been removed from this stool to reveal the original water-gilded surface.) At the same time the upholstery was partly renewed, with new red velvet on the top and sides of the cushion and on the valance below. During recent conservation some of the original textiles were discovered on this stool, including two colourful figured velvets on the cushion sides. The threadbare bordered panel on the top of the cushion is in remnants of the same two velvets, which were evidently used in the same position in the original scheme; and the top originally had outer borders of dark crimson velvet, remnants of which survive. The valance panels were probably in the same dark crimson velvet originally. In the restoration of c. 1800 the original trimmings as well as the top bordered panel were re-used. This stool, together with W.15-2009, was sold from Warwick Castle, Sotheby’s, London, 4 June 2008, lot 30. The application to export them was refused by the Minister for a period of five months, to allow a British institution to match the price that they had fetched at auction, as a result of which they were purchased by the V&A. Nineteenth-century accounts of the State Bedroom at Warwick Castle William Hopton(?), 1807(?) Manuscript ‘State Bed Room … The Bed & furniture were given by the present King, to the late Earl of Warwick. It belonged to Queen Ann. – The Tapes.try was made at Brussels in 1604. …’ [Warwick Library: Z4244868, untitled manuscript inscribed on flyleaf in a 20th-century hand, ‘apparently written by William Hopton, 1807’ (with dedication to the Earl of Warwick on following page), p. 15.] 1806 inventory Large 4 post Bedstead with Wrought Velvett } And Border’d with Crimson Lined with Green } Sattin and Fringd } 2 White Mattrasss. 1 Velvett Bed Cover 1 Old Cover 1 Bolster & 3 pillows Coverd. 2 Elbow Chairs to Match the Bed 2 Large Settees to Do. Do. 6 Stools with Cushions to Do. [Warwickshire County Record Office: CR1886/BB 342 TN 1053, f. 57v] 1809 inventory ‘Large 4 Post Bedstead with wrought Velvett and bordered with Crimson lined with Green Satin and fring’d / 2 White Mattresses / 2 Elbow Chairs to match the Bed / 2 large Settees. Do [ditto] / 6 Stools with Cushions Do.’ [Warwickshire County Record Office: CR 1886/Box 446] William Field, An Historical … Account of the town and castle of Warwick … (1815), pp. 192–93 (evidently derived in part from Hopton) STATE BED ROOM The bed and furniture of this room [the State Bed Room] are of crimson velvet, embroidered with green and yellow silk. They belonged to Queen Anne: and were given, by the present King, to the late Earl of Warwick. The room is hung with tapestry, which appears by the date of it, to have been made at Brussels, 1604. It is supposed to represent the Gardens of Versailles, as they were at that time. – The chimney-piece, executed by WESTMACOTT, is remarkably handsome. It is formed of verd antique and white marble. Two black marble vases stand on its mantle; and a bronze copy of the Borghese Vase on the hearth. HERE is a Cabinet highly curious, made of ebony, inlaid with wood of various shades and colours, beautifully representing flowers, birds, and various animals. On this Cabinet, stands a chrystal cup, mounted, between two engraved chrystal vials. Behind, are a bronze lion and lioness. On another cabinet, opposite the window, is an essence vase, of the old enamel, on copper mounted on or moulou. Charles William Spicer, History of Warwick Castle (1844), pp. 31–32 ‘This Chamber [the State Bed Room] … measures 24 feet square, and is high in proportion. The walls are hung with finely preserved tapestry, worked at Brussels about the year 1604, and on the border is inscribed “Franciscus Spiringius.” The bed itself, in perfect harmony with the other furniture, is of salmon-coloured damask, and having coverlids and counterpanes of satin, all richly embroidered and bordered with crimson velvet; this, with the corresponding chairs, sofas, and fauteuils, formerly belonged to Queen Anne, and were presented to the Warwick family by George III. Opposite the bed is a beautiful chimney-piece, executed by Westmacott in verd antique and white marble.’