A George II parcel gilt and mahogany door with a carved and painted surround circa 1735, the design attributed to William Kent

the six panelled door centred on a bead and acanthus carved divide, each fielded panel with ribbon tied border and egg and dart decoration, the key hole covered with a finely chased gilt brass leaf cast escutcheon, the reverse of simpler form, together with the original parcel gilt and grained door surround surmounted by a pediment with borders of egg and dart and dentil decoration above a cushion carved apron of floral scroll work and cornucopia, the jambs with acanthus, line and bead and reel decoration. The door with a label printed His Grace, The Duke of Devonshire, K.G., Chesterfield (LM) and by hand Green Room facing main staircase the surround components with printed label for Holland & Hannen and Cubitts Ltd, 258 Grays Inn Road, W.C.L' and by hand Green Room Opp. Entrance Lobby (6)

Ordered by William Cavendish, 3^rd Duke of Devonshire (1698-1755) as an outer door to enter the Green Drawing Room, the original Dining Room

This impressive pair of doors and surround are in fair overall condition. Both the frame and the door have stains and signs of wear, including chipping. The polished surface to the door is distressed. The corner of the pediment has been cut to fit against a wall at Devonshire House. Two sections of dentil moulding are missing. There is some chipping to the frieze and jambs. A section of ribbon tied border is missing from two panels.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any stat.mes nt made by Replica Shoes 's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The design of this door and surround shows a direct correlation to the design by Inigo Jones for a doorway at Somerset House, London, illustrated in John Harris, The Palladian Revival: Lord Burlington, His Villa and Garden at Chiswick, Yale, 1994, p.120, fig. 84 (reproduce opposite). The flattened pediment, foliate carved overdoor and divided six-panel door closely relates to doors in The King's Gallery at Kensington Palace by William Kent illustrated in John Cornforth, Early Georgian Interiors, Yale 2004, p.147, fig. 181.   The foliate carving on the shaped surmount of this door frame was designed in Kent's all embracing style to reflect the designs of the cornicing in the same room, see Cornforth, op. cit., p.149, fig.183.

The doors, surrounds and surmounts also relate to those designed by Kent and supplied to Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester for The Landscape Room and between bookcases in the Library at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, illustrated in Leo Schmidt et al., Holkham, 2005, pp. 50-51, col. pl. IX and X and p.135, col. pl. XXII.

The paper labels for Holland & Hannen and Cubitts Ltd. attached to this door and the others that follow demonstrate the care taken by Evelyn, Duchess of Devonshire who supervised the removal of works of art and architectural fittings from Devonshire House. The company were the successful buyers of the Piccadilly property and as a part of the contact of sale, the Duchess had ensured that, should the mansion be demolished, all fittings would revert to family ownership and the developer would be responsible for their safe removal.