On the other side of cheery chic is the posh and polish of the Althorp Living History Collection by Theodore Alexander. The ninth Earl of Althorp, Lord Charles Spencer, has licensed a line of reproductions from his family's 14,000-acre estate in the English countryside. The new heirloom pieces, which debuted last market, represented each of the nine Earls who have been caretakers of the Spencer legacy. The Talbot Barrel table with hand-forged iron straps and a hand-painted Spencer coat of arms in the center was the most casual piece, with desks, chests, and chairs all vying to be the most stunning.
Impeccably replicated and in some cases refined for modern living, each one could instantly elevate the status of a room from common to aristocratic. The Ad Victoriam, a carved mahogany library chair with armrests molded as cannons and the word "Victory" carved on the back, is for the second Earl of Althorp, George Spencer. As First Lord of the Admiralty he appointed Horatio Nelson commander of the English fleet.
The original chair was made from the wood of Nelson's ship, Victory. This piece is both functional furniture and investment art that will appreciate with time. It retails for $2,099.
If a winning chair doesn't lift your spirits, perhaps a Wine Cellar will. This piece represents Edward John Spencer, eighth Earl Spencer, the father of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He was a collector of fine wine, and the buffet in flame mahogany with a bow front and a concave paneled center section reflects his passion. Both side panels open, revealing three drawers on one side and three wine shelves with brass labels on the other. You get all that for $5,999.
