Eglantine Table

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One of the treasures of Hardwick Hall is the newly cleaned Eglantine Table. The detail visible is quite incredible. In this large inlaid table, located on the first floor, are depicted an almost complete Morley consort, including a violin with frets. (This is discussed by Playford. The frets may have been used so as to play dance music with an entirely open string sound rather than for accuracy.) There are sets of recorders and some loud wind instruments. In addition there are depicted playing cards from the Tudor Period and other means of amusement such as backgammon and flowers. All the objects seem to be actual size, though of course this is subject to argument. (It seems very credible that the lute and the violin are actual size.) There is yet to be a definitive academic study of this priceless object. (There is one other inlaid Tudor table of this quality in existence, in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow.)

Eglantine is a white rose, one of the family emblems and the table was a commission for a marriage celebration.

Another treasure is the Sea Dog Table which is late middle 16th century. (The Sea Dog Table has anecdotes about the Cavendishes associated with it, ask the curators if you go there.) There is a fine garden with mulberry trees as would have been grown in the Jacobean period.

There is http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/taf24/bess.htm much information about the colourful life of Bess of Hardwick and the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots on the Bolsover Council Tourist Site.

Bibliography

• Stringed instruments on the Eglantine table, E. Segerman. & D. A. Abbot, Early Music 4/4 (Oct. 1976), p. 485
• Elizabethan Treasures: The Hardwick Hall Textiles, Santina M. Levey.
• The National Trust Guidebook to Hardwick Hall.