This is the music room from Norfolk House in St James’s Square in Westminster.
The room was designed for the Duke of Norfolk's house, built between 1748 and 1752.
The ‘lightness and novelty’ of the interior caused a sensation when the house was first seen by the Duke’s guests.
When Norfolk House was demolished in 1938, the music room was removed and reconstructed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The room is a splendid place to visit for atmosphere and inspiration for locations for scenes in fiction with an eighteenth century or Regency setting.
When I visited the V&A recently I had the room to myself and could easily imagine it full of ladies and gentlemen in eighteenth century dress. Not everyone can visit the V&A or similar places, of course, but for those who are fortunate enough to be able to do so, five minutes in a room like this is worth hours of reading about eighteenth century decor.
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