皇冠体育app

This will provide a last chance to raise the money to keep the table top in the United Kingdom.聽

皇冠体育app Minister鈥檚 ruling follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (Reviewing Committee), administered by Arts Council England. 皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee recommended that the export decision be deferred on the grounds that the table top is of outstanding aesthetic importance and outstanding significance for the study of early European marquetry.

皇冠体育app table top, which dates from the mid-sixteenth century, was intended to celebrate the military acumen and political courage of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who abdicated voluntarily in 1556. It is likely to have been commissioned by a very senior member of the imperial court and made by one of the most accomplished workshops in Augsburg - a German city that was home to some of the most important developments in sixteenth century marquetry.

皇冠体育app table top is an exceptionally rare and complex example of south German marquetry, shows very fine workmanship and remains in unusually good condition. 皇冠体育app design is intended to be seen from all sides, perhaps suggesting the multi-facetted challenges of imperial rule. Unlike a lot of early furniture, it retains much of the pristine impact that it would have had when originally produced as an exceptional luxury object.

Ownership of the table top can be traced as far back as the early to mid-nineteenth century. Gregory de Ligne Gregory, an energetic and eclectic collector, acquired the table top for Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire as part of a nineteenth century interest in collecting German Renaissance furniture.

Simon Swynfen Jervis, Reviewing Committee member, said:

鈥淭his spectacular and historic marquetry table top is a masterpiece of international significance, both for the virtuoso quality of its execution and the rich complexity of its design. 皇冠体育appre is nothing comparable in the UK.鈥�

皇冠体育app decision on the export licence application for the table top will be deferred for a period ending on 12 February 2013 inclusive. This period may be extended until 12 May 2013 inclusive if a serious intention to raise funds is expressed with a view to making an offer to purchase the table top at the recommended price of 拢274,300 (inclusive of VAT; but please note that any institution which is able to reclaim VAT would need to match 拢265,250 plus VAT at 20%, the latter of which could be reclaimed).

For media information contact:

Sam Gough, Media Relations Officer, Arts Council England
Tel: 020 7973 5189 or 07872 416679
Email: [email protected]

Notes to Editors

1. Anyone interested in making an offer to purchase the table top should contact:

皇冠体育app Secretary
皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest
Arts Council England
Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 3NQ
Tel: 0845 300 6200

1. Anyone interested in making a matching offer and who requires further information about the table top from the Champion should contact 皇冠体育app Secretary to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest at the above address.

2. For enquiries on the operation of and casework arising from the work of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) please contact the Enquiries team on [email protected] or 0845 300 6200

3. 皇冠体育app details of the table top are:

A south German sycamore, walnut, olive, yew-wood and pen-engraved fruitwood marquetry table top
Augsburg, c.1556-60
74cm high, 129cm wide, 124cm deep

Provenance:

Acquired by Gregory de Ligne Gregory (d. 1854) for Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire, by descent to Sir Glynne Earle Welby-Gregory Denton (1806-75) and listed in the 1864-66 inventory of Harlaxton Manor as in the Tapestry gallery (National Archives, Kew, Ms. J 90/1217).

Not sold in the 1878 sale of contents of Harlaxton.

By descent in the family.
.

1. 皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England, which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria. Where the Committee finds that an object meets one or more of the criteria, it will normally recommend that the decision on the export licence application should be deferred for a specified period. An offer may then be made from within the United Kingdom at or above the fair market price.

2. champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people鈥檚 lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest 拢1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated 拢1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

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