Product Description

Made for the State visit of George IV in 1821 to Ireland after his coronation, by repute.  By Mack, Williams and Gibton, Dublin, and with their label. Of French lit-en-bateau form, the frame carved with laurel leaves, Tudor rose paterae and lion masks, the bolt-covers carved with interlaced English roses, Scottish thistles, and Irish shamrocks.

Provenance:

Loughton House, Co. Offaly. The residence of Lord Bloomfield.
Lord Bloomfield was an Aide-de-Camp, then Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to the Prince of Wales and finally was Private Secretary to the King, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and Receiver of the Duchy of Cornwall from 1817 to 1822. One of the issues that Bloomfield had to contend with as Private Secretary was the King’s extravagant spending. This led to Parliamentary discussions about possible reforms to the civil list.
That being said, Bloomfield would have expected a Royal visit at Loughton and so furnished “The King’s Bedroom” in preparation. Other Irish houses also underwent alterations in expectation of a royal visit.

George IV’s mistress from 1820-1830 was Lady Conyngham of Slane Castle Ireland. She held great influence over the King, gaining her and her family personal and financial benefits. After his coronation he spent 4 days at Slane with her. It is thought that due to Lord Bloomfields attempts to reign in the King’s spending, she convinced the King to abandon his visit to Bloomfield and Loughton House. Though the bed was made for the royal visit, George IV most likely did not sleep in it.

A family legend passed on from generation to generation does persist that the bed was moved from Slane Castle to Loughton House after the visit.