A fascinating look at the courtly ceremonial splendour and function of furniture of the post-Restoration period, with reference not just to its design, construction and decoration but also to its upholstery – frequently more expensive than the furniture itself.

At its best, the decoration of furniture in this period - inspired by advanced French taste in particular and the Baroque generally - is successfully integrated with the exciting form it assumed under the ever-developing skill of remarkable craftsmen.

At its worst, its “intolerable luxury and huge expense” led to vulgarity and bad taste!

Unique close-ups of the upholstered State furniture from Knole and elsewhere – a visual ‘wow’ factor- are included in this lecture.