The National Gallery comes to Bellmans
It is not often that we can say it’s likely that many of you have already sat on something we are selling. Our October Antiques & Interiors Auction, however, includes some furniture that you may have encountered before.
Our next sale offers the unique opportunity to own a gallery bench from The National Gallery in London (or indeed ten of them.)
In May 2025, the Gallery marked the end of its Bicentenary year with the reopening of the refurbished Sainsbury Wing and a complete rehang of its collection. As part of these projects, the decision was made to replace some of the benches in the National Gallery - out with the old and in with the new. And here at Bellmans, having received the consignment directly from The National Gallery themselves, it is most definitely (and is typically the way with auctions) in with the old!
Included in our October Antiques & Interiors Auction on 13th-14th October are five large double-sided round ended gallery benches (lots 1200, 1240, 1260, 1280 and 1360). These red leather upholstered seats were initially designed for The Barry Room’s refurbishment in the mid-1980s. Their aim was to restore the Gallery’s first major extension to its former Neo-Renaissance glory. Now the heart of The National Gallery, the richly decorated entablatures and central domed atrium were a grand home for these historic benches.
They were manufactured by reputable Norwich based furniture makers Arthur Brett & Sons. Founded in 1870, the family run business was known for crafting bespoke, high-quality reproduction furniture throughout the 20th century.
Having recently moved between Rooms 30, 31 and 32 in the gallery, it’s likely you may have sat on one of these benches in front of iconic paintings such as Diego Velázquez’s The Rokeby Venus (1647-1651) or Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus (1601).
Room 32 – The Julia and Hans Rausing Room - is one of the most impressive within the walls of the National Gallery, having been designed by Edward M Barry (in addition to the aforementioned ‘Barry Rooms’) as part of the first major extension of the gallery in 1868. It houses some of the collection’s largest and most iconic paintings.
If the round ended benches were not enough of the gallery interior for you, we are also selling an octagonal example which definitely retains the iconic National Gallery look (lot 1270). This bench is also upholstered in the same red leather befitting the Gallery’s style, it has an octagonal central backrest constructed of fielded panels divided by interlaced carved scroll mounts. It is a 20th century copy after the original bench designed for The Mond Room built in 1928 to house the 42 paintings bequeathed to The National Gallery by Dr Ludwig Mond in 1909.
Our 20th century example of this bench has been in Room 33 of the Gallery since the 1960s and has sat amongst great paintings by the likes of Piero della Francesca and Giovanni Bellini.
Finally, if your grand entrance hall isn’t quite large enough to fit those rather grand upholstered benches, we are also selling two pairs of more standard flat- top benches in the October sale (lots 1220 and 1310).
These mahogany benches have scrolling urn shaped supports, mirroring the scroll mounts on the octagonal bench, retaining that classical look. This style is in the manner of William Kent, architect, painter and furniture designer working in the early 18th century. Kent’s designs drew upon classical influences, the scroll shape of the supports on these benches in particular hark back to the Palladian style that Kent sought to imitate in his work
Through this shape, as well as the deep bench seat, they retain the grandeur that is expected of benches made for such an iconic institution whilst retaining a paired back design that would suit any domestic interior. They have been used throughout the Gallery since the 1950s and could be a great addition to a dining table or hallway and have that impressive provenance to match.
The benches will be sold as part of the furniture section of our
Antiques & Interiors Auction on 14th October.
The auction catalogue will be live from 3rd October.
Viewing at our Sussex Saleroom:
Thursday 10am-4pm & Bellmans Late Event 5pm-7pm - an evening preview with sparkling wine provided by Stopham Vineyard.
Friday 10th October 10am-4pm
Saturday 11th October 9am-12pm
And during sale week.
