A pair of William and Mary carved and painted over-door frames circa 1700, attributed to Samuel Watson

carved with acanthus and ribbon tied decoration, together with a further larger frame, formerly blue painted and all possibly reduced in size (3)

The pair of frames are in fair condition though have a build up of ingrained dust and dirt. The decoration is flaky with losses in places. There are some losses to the carving, especially to the beaded edge. One frame has two losses (one recent) to the ribbon tied decoration. The larger frame is in four sections and is in similar overall condition but with no significant losses to the carving. Pair - aperture 128cm. by 44cm
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Samuel Watson (c. 1670-1715) was the pre-eminent designer and woodcarver working for the Duke at Chatsworth from 1689.  A native of Derbyshire, he learned his craft at Chatsworth under William Cresswell, the Master Carpenter, and the London carvers, Thomas Young, William Davis and  Joel Lobb.  They were assisted by Henry Lobb and Robert Owen together with up to six unnamed peripatetic carvers.  By the mid 1690s Watson's skill was such that he not only carried out the major carving commissions but also designed them.  His work is to be found in all the 1st Duke's rooms, especially in the series of State Rooms.  Fortunately, his designs were gathered together by his son, Henry, and are preserved at Chatsworth in Watson's Book of Accounts, Agreements and Designs.  His work has strong affinities to that of Grinling Gibbons. 

These over-door frames may well have originated in the 1st Duke's Long Gallery (now the Library) or in the Mary, Queen of Scots or Leicester Apartments, where paintings in over-door frames are recorded. These rooms were remodelled by the 6th Duke in the 1820s.