Final Post on the CONVERSATIONS weekend at Mount Stewart House and Gardens

During the Conversations Weekend this September, I went on a Conservation tour in the house which was fascinating and one of the items the guide showed us was one of the 22 chairs used at the Congress of Vienna (1814). The ARMS of each occupant are embroidered on the back of his chair, and the ARMS of his Country on the seat and this particular chair was the coat of arms of Jean Louis Paul François, Duc de Noailles.

The Chairs belonged to Lord Castlereagh and were in his house in Vienna. He brought them to Mount Stewart and it was his wish that they should not be taken from here.   There are a number already restored and can be seen in the Drawing Room as well as the Dining room.

This is a photograph in which you can see some of the chairs that were used at the time of the Congress of Vienna.

The guide explained to us how the gold leaf was applied to each chair and also told us how, during the restoration period of things in the house, how they were labelled, handled and stored.

Gloves are always worn when handling anything to be restored and different methods and equipment used in the process.  These were a few of the items the guide had picked out to show us and explain how they were going to be restored.  

This was very special lighting so that the room always could be worked in light resembling daylight conditions.  They also had a special table that was capable of being raised up and down to the exact height to safely work of different items to be restored.  

These are ore items waiting to be restored.  

I hope this gives you a glimpse into the conservation work 

that continues to go on day and daily at 

Mount Stewart House,near Newtownards in Northern Ireland.

Many thanks for both your visit and comments on this post.