Ballroom carpet from Chavenage House in sale

The exotic ballroom carpet from Chavenage House – the country manor that doubles as ‘Trenwith’ in the BBC’s Poldark series and as a mansion in the new Jilly Cooper Rivals series – will be auctioned by Cotswold-based Chorley’s auctioneers on October 22. 

The enormous 26 ft x 20 ft ‘Ziegler’ ballroom carpet was tailor made in the Sultanabad area of West Persia circa 1900. It features an all over design of flowering vines and bold palmettes framed by a wide indigo border of bold samovar motifs, curled leaves and flowerheads, flanked by triple guard-stripes. Bids are expected in the region of £15,000-£20,000. 

Chavenage is one of the most recognised country houses in the UK, having hosted stars including Aiden Turner, David Tennant, Alex Hassell and Eddie Redmayne alongside leading ladies Eleanor Tomlinson, Gemma Arterton and Anya Taylor-Joy on sets for Poldark, Rivals, Emma, Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Wolf Hall among others. 

More privately, Chavenage has also hosted Royal family members and English society events for centuries. Gentry and celebrities alike have been captivated by the Elizabethan house’s glorious gardens, tapestry-adorned function rooms and haunted history – and the oak panelled ballroom and its beautiful carpet have been at the heart (and under the feet) of it all. 

Thomas Jenner-Fust, auctioneer and director at Chorley’s said: “Royalty, film stars and ghosts – the Ziegler carpet at Chavenage has seen them all. We’re very excited to be selling it at auction. In 1904, the Chavenage owners thought ‘it would have been social death not to have a ballroom’, so they added a new wing to their house to accommodate one. These days people are building a party barn instead of a ballroom, but they still need a beautiful swimming pool-sized carpet to dress it, so we’re seeing a lot of interest in our upcoming sale.” 

The Chorley’s Fine Art & Antique Sale will also include: 

• A unique oil painting of noted businessman, philanthropist, sportsman and magician Sir Julien Cahn (1882-1944) by Charles Walter Simpson RI (1885-1971). Among other philanthropic achievements, Sir Julien rescued Newstead Abbey (former home of Lord Byron) from ruin, sponsored numerous hospitals and helped to establish Britain’s first human milk bank. He also entertained large audiences as a conjurer, generously supported multiple regional English cricket clubs, and was one of the few Jewish Masters of Foxhounds in the period. Estimated at £20,000-30,000 
• An 8ft tall, late 17th Century Scottish walnut and marquetry eight-day longcase clock, with an 11” brass dial signed by Andrew Brown, Edinburgh has an estimate of £6,000-8,000 
• A Charles II oak tester bed, made in the West Country (most likely from Gloucestershire) is estimated at £6,000-10,000