Explore Fairfax: Rear Hall
In the Rear Hall, the level of decoration intensifies as you approach the Great Staircase.
Detail showing guilloche pattern above doors and in the ceiling and a seated figure of Roma.
The stucco-work on the ceiling and on the facing wall, has as its focus, a seated figure of Roma. Below this medallion is a superbly carved Hall Chair of c.1715 with curving back, designed to accommodate the spine. To the left is a longcase clock, by Anderson of Liverpool and a handsome serpentine-fronted chest of drawers which supports an early imported blue & white Chinese Dish.
At the foot of the Great Staircase, the level of decoration intensifies, with the use of a guilloche pattern above the doors and in the compartmented ceiling. Lord Fairfax employed this motif extensively in the private apartments at his country seat, Gilling Castle, and the design may have had a powerful religious symbolism for this Catholic family.
The pine doors have been restored and were originally painted to simulate mahogany.
At the foot of the Great Staircase, the level of decoration intensifies, with the use of a guilloche pattern above the doors and in the compartmented ceiling. Lord Fairfax employed this motif extensively in the private apartments at his country seat, Gilling Castle, and the design may have had a powerful religious symbolism for this Catholic family.
The pine doors have been restored and were originally painted to simulate mahogany.
MORE ABOUT the Rear Hall
Chinese Dish
A late Ming imported dish, c.1610, decorated with panels of floral decoration around the border and surrounding a wild garden.
Category: Ceramics
Hall Chair
An important walnut hall chair,c.1715, with a carved and waisted splat decorated with a fish scale pattern that takes its inspiration from imported Chinese ceramics and furniture.
Category: Furniture
Jacobean Buffet c.1610
This robust court cupboard combines heavily carved supports and elements with finely inlaid parts. The centre section has some of the earliest known floral marquetry on a piece of English oak furniture.
Category: Furniture
Stucco medallion - 'Roma'
Between the doors on the ground floor and set high is this draped stucco medallion of Roma after a design in Phillipe Maffei, Gemme Antiche Figurate, 1707.
Category: Architectural feature
Chinese DishA late Ming imported dish, c.1610, decorated with panels of floral decoration around the border and surrounding a wild garden.
Category: Ceramics
Hall ChairAn important walnut hall chair,c.1715, with a carved and waisted splat decorated with a fish scale pattern that takes its inspiration from imported Chinese ceramics and furniture.
Category: Furniture
Jacobean Buffet c.1610 This robust court cupboard combines heavily carved supports and elements with finely inlaid parts. The centre section has some of the earliest known floral marquetry on a piece of English oak furniture.
Category: Furniture
Stucco medallion - 'Roma'Between the doors on the ground floor and set high is this draped stucco medallion of Roma after a design in Phillipe Maffei, Gemme Antiche Figurate, 1707.
Category: Architectural feature