1953, produced by W. Hands & Son Ltd., numbered 375, covered with blue velvet bearing the monogram ER II beneath a crown, stamped and branded to the underside, one rail stamped "W.T" beneath a crown, 85cm high x 49.5cm x 43cm deep
| Estimate: | £500 - £1,000 |
| Hammer price: | £850 |
Provenance: Lady Nellie Holmes (1890-1974) and thence by descent.
Born Nellie Florence Marshall in Barnsley, Yorkshire, in 1890, she married Horace Holmes in 1912. During the nearly 60 years of their marriage Nellie and Horace were active in the Salvation Army, both rising to the rank of general. She died in Bridlington, Yorkshire, in 1974.
Lady Nellie Holmes attended The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II along with her husband Sir Horace Holmes, in seat numbers 375 and 31 respectively. Sir Horace Holmes's chair is offered in the previous lot (259).
The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was held on 2nd June 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony was a very large celebration with several thousand distinguished guests in attendance. The numbers of guests were fewer than George VI coronation, due to the reduction in seating behind the alter. Planning for such an important event took over 12 months. The design of the chairs and stools produced for the ceremony was taken from those created for the King George VI Coronation in 1937. The Ministry of Works were responsible for commissioning all furnishings for the coronation. As had been the case for George VI coronation furniture manufacturers based in High Wycombe, the centre of English chair making during this period, produced all of the chairs and stools. A range of companies manufactured the furniture including; B. North & Sons; W. Hands & Sons; Thomas Glenister Ltd.; Castle Bros. (all firms in High Wycombe); Maple & Co., and Waring & Gillow. The blue velvet coverings were made at Listers Mills in Bradford, Yorkshire.
