Mott Grand Piano
Grand Piano, c1830s, in rosewood banded with amboyna, the panels inlaid with brass in the form of classical figures within arabesque and scrolled borders, mounted on a central stem and plateau tripod similarly inlaid with arabesques. The piano was altered 1850/60 with metal framing which may have been added in the Mott factory. The piano has no remaining sostenente action. This has been replaced by an over-strung action. The case is of rosewood inlaid with brass in a design of female figures emblematic of music and dancing. The figures are similar to those depicted by Thomas Hope in Costume of the Ancients ( 1809).
Inscribed: Patent Sostenente Grand/IHR MOTT JC MOTT & Compy/ 92 Pall Mall London/ Makers to His Majesty
Purchased by Queen Mary in 1928 and gifted to Royal Pavilion Brighton. The original Mott piano was taken by Queen Victoria to Buckingham Palace (where it remains) when she sold Brighton Pavilion. Queen Mary. Transferred by gift to Milford Buildings Preservation Trust by Royal Pavilion Brighton. It is similar to the Broadwood rosewood grand piano Robert Garmany McCrum had in his Drawing Room in Milford House which disappeared in 1930 Milford House auction.
Dutch Cabinet 1780
Beautiful Dutch cabinet 1780 from Clifton House Dorset. Matches the Dutch cabinet listed in Drawing Room in November 1930 Milford House Auction catalogue. Acquired with generous support of Beecroft Bequest
Silver chest
19th century silver chest. English brass mounted on hairy claw legs. Matches the chest at bottom of front staircase listed in November 1930 Milford House Auction Catalogue.
Country House letter box
Rosewood Country house letter box c.1880. Matches one listed in outer hall in November 1930 Milford House catalogue. Robert Garmany McCrum and other members of the household would put their letters to post in it and the servants would either collect them and take them down to village post office or give them to postman when he called. There is no letter box at Milford House it is one piece of solid oak so the postman would have left letters in this box too. When Milford House was home to Manor House Special care they had to have special two letter boxes similar to this one made for outer hall - one for outgoing and another for incoming mail.