Large & Rare Pair Of Early 17th-Century English Antique Oak Cupboard Doors Commemorating The Marriage Of Charles I To Henrietta Maria, circa 1625

A large pair of early 17th-century English antique oak cupboard doors made to commemorate the marriage of King Charles I to Henrietta Maria in 1625.

It is unknown whether these doors had an ecclesiastical / Catholic context associated with the marriage. Given their overall good condition, these may have been removed and hidden away in 1649 when Charles I was executed after the English Civil War of 1642-1646, fought between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. The Royalists lost the war. If a Royalist supporter had owned these panels at the time, showing his support for the Monarchy and Catholicism, he would have no doubt been severely punished by the laws set out at the time, including confiscation of property, heavy taxes, or execution!

The left door is fitted with an arcaded panel. The arched pediment to this has a central rosette flanked by the initials “C R” for “Charles Rex”. A delicately shaped, arched, and linear border decorates this part of the panel and is carved with nulling. Below, the inner edge of the arch is decorated with dental moulding and is flanked to either side with a pair of bosses and a single drop. Below, a bobbin-turned cross has been applied to the centre, decorated with two further bosses on its stem and an “X” at its base, and it is flanked by a decorative bobbin-turned column at each side. The pediments and plinth bases to each column are decorated with a scratch-carved “X”. The cross terminates on a horizontal solomonic column.

The central panel is bordered on all sides. The border is carved with a mix of free-flowing forms, foliate stems, and lunettes. The door also incorporates two escutcheons and a single lock verso.

The second panel is identical, aside it bears the initials “H R” for “Henrietta Regina”. A lock is also verso.

These are a good pair of doors that would look highly decorative in any property as either wall decoration or where they could be integrated into functioning cupboard doors.

Provenance – Unknown.

Condition – Please refer to the images. Good overall. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size – Height 58.4 cm (23″) x Width 38.75 cm (18 3/8″) x Depth 6.4 cm (2 1/2)