Pendle Hall Dolls' House - Room 21 Chinese Bedroom

The Chinese bedroom is one of 21 rooms in the dolls' house Pendle Hall. It was designed and decorated by Felicity Clemons over a forty year period, and each piece of furniture and fixture was handmade by her. She used books and magazines for inspiration, and to achieve a high level of accuracy in the design and execution of each item.

It is a large room on the second floor of the house, directly above the morning room. It is so called because of its richly decorated chinoiserie design, very popular in the 18th and 19th century.

In the left hand back corner is a large wooden four poster bed, which is painted in red lacquer with gold chinese style decorations. The wooden canopy, held up by four turned posts, is in a pagoda style, with elaborate carved decorations. The bed has a mattress and an orange silk bedspread. Next to it is a wooden commode, with a hinged lid, which is covered in an orange and gold patterned material.

In the right hand back corner is a wooden dressing table, with fret work panelling, which is painted in red lacquer with gold decorations. On it sit a pair of candlesticks and a metal goblet.

On the right hand wall is a wooden combined vanity table and writing desk, with a large arched shaped mirror, painted in red lacquer with gold chinese style decorations. In front of it sits a wooden stool, painted in red lacquer, which has a seat upholstered in orange fabric. Next to it sits a wooden chair, painted in red lacquer with gold decorations. It has a high back with fret work decorations.

On the back wall is a large open fireplace, containing firewood, with a painted marble mantel. On the left hand wall is a door to the second floor landing, while on the right hand wall is a large rectangular sash window, with a pair of orange silk curtains.

The walls are decorated with panels of gold wallpaper painted with chinese decorations. There are chinese style birds painted around the ceiling, which is surrounded with white plaster mouldings. A four branch candelabra hangs from a plaster ceiling rose. The floor is covered with intricately designed parquetry.