A large Aubusson carpet, in Turkish style, mid 19th century, decorated with stylised floral foliage throughout, the central Herati motif within a cream medallion, the crimson field surrounded by stylised lotus heads, within a cream border, approximately 845 x 512cm Provenance: Probably acquired by Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick (1853-1924) for 'Queen Anne's Bedroom', part of the State Apartments at Warwick Castle, and thence by descent until sold Literature: 'Warwick Castle - II', Country Life, 6 June 1914, pp. 846-847, 'Queen Anne's Room'. Probably, the Aubusson carpet recorded in 'Queen Anne's Bedroom' in the Schedule of Articles of Warwick Castle which are of National or Historical Interest, December 1924, p. 10. M. Binney, 'Warwick Castle Revisited - IV', Country Life, 23 December 1982, p. 2025, fig. 5, 'The Green Drawing Room'. This impressive mid-19th century Aubusson carpet was at Warwick Castle from at least 1914, and probably earlier, when it was photographed by Country Life in 'Queen Anne's Room', the principal state room dedicated to relics of Queen Anne (1665-1714), which includes a magnificent early 18th century Royal state bed and six stools and pair of armchairs en suite, originally executed for William III (1650-1702) for the Little Bedchamber at Hampton Court Palace; a gift from George III to Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick and Earl Brooke (1719-1773) ('Warwick Castle - II', Country Life, June 6th, 1914, pp. 846-847). Warwick Castle is one of the most important and impressive medieval castles in Britain, which, from the 17th Century, was converted from a fortification into a residence by the Greville family, Barons Brooke, later Earls of Warwick. Since this date, it has undergone a series of extensive refurbishments by successive Earls of Warwick, most notably the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Earls, who were important collectors; the former had significant debts amounting to £115,000 (£10 million in 2020). This carpet was almost certainly acquired after 1894 by Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick (1853-1924), styled Lord Brooke until 1893; it is recorded in 'Queen Anne's Bedroom' in the inventory compiled in December 1924 after his death (Schedule of Articles of Warwick Castle which are of National or Historical Interest, December 1924, p. 10) but is not listed in the 1894 Inventory of Heirlooms similarly raised after his father's demise. It was possibly purchased by the 5th Earl specifically for 'Queen Anne's Bedroom', and to complement a large Aubusson carpet in a adjoining state room, the 'Cedar Drawing Room' that undoubtedly formed part of the 4th Earl's inheritance (illustrated M. Binney, 'Warwick Castle Revisited - IV', Country Life, 23 December 1982, p. 2025, fig. 3). George Guy Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick, 4th Earl Brooke (1818-1893), bibliophile and prolific collector, was the patron responsible for creating a 'Romantic Interior' in the Castle during a restoration that followed a fire at the Castle in 1871 when the State Apartments were emptied and 'many of the most valuable contents... damaged by hasty removal (L. Wood, 'A Royal Relic: The State Bedroom Suite at Warwick Castle', Furniture History Society, 2012, p. 83). Only one Aubusson carpet is recorded in the 1894 inventory and that is the one in the 'Cedar Drawing Room' (also listed in the same room in the 1924 inventory, p. 14). Interestingly, no Aubusson carpets are listed in earlier inventories for the Castle, specifically 1853, when no carpet appears to have been laid in 'Queen Anne's Bedroom', thus concurring with an 1844 drawing published in William Spicer's History of Warwick Castle that shows bare floorboards in this room, and in the 'Cedar Drawing Room' there was a Persian carpet. By 1982, the present carpet had been removed to 'The Green Drawing Room', where it appears in a Country Life photograph (Illustrated Binney, op. cit, fig. 5). Condition Report: Some wear overall. Patches of additional wear to central field. Some 'pulls', loose threads and small losses. Various old stitched repairs along the colour lines. Later fabric backing. Some expected fading. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition. Condition Report Disclaimer