Furniture

Part of the collection on loan from the Dunimarle Trust is a rare suite of carved and gilded furniture currently on display in the North Drawing Room. Most of the furniture in this room was collected by Sir James Erskine in the 19th century and was originally kept in the Erskine’s home in Fife. It decorated their State Drawing Room or Napoleon Room, so-called because of its former association with Napoleon’s family. It was bought at a sale in Paris at vast expense by Sir James, after the fall of Napoleon. He had to pay Customs charges on them at the rate of 60% of their declared value.

Major-General Sir James Erskine (1772-1825), was a keen connoisseur of old masters and an avid collector. He was Magdalene Sharp Erskine’s older brother. His marble bust can be seen on display in the Vestibule. It is this family’s collection of furniture, china and glass that is on display in Duff House. The furniture belonged to Cardinal Fesch (1763-1839), a French cardinal, closely associated with the family of Napoleon Bonaparte, to whom he was a step-uncle by marriage. More examples of Cardinal Fesch furniture very similar to these chairs can also be seen at Danson House in Kent.