On July 1, 1969, in the ruins of Caernarfon Castle, Prince Charles was crowned Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of the leaders of the country, its aristocracy and the cameras of the world.
The castle's decor, worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, was imagined by the designer Lord Snowdon, brother-in-law of the queen and constable of the castle. Thanks to his creative spirit and his experience as a photographer, Snowdon offered a grandiose staging, consisting of huge banners bearing the arms of the various Welsh counties, a podium for the three thrones and a canopy inspired by the tent of Henry VIII at the Drap d'Or camp.
He would also design, especially for the event, the seats for the several thousand guests expected at the ceremony: solid flamboyant red chairs stamped with the Prince of Wales symbol in gold leaf. With the help of Carl Toms and John Pound, 4,600 copies were produced on time by the Remploy manufactory in Bridgend.
At the end of the nomination, the chairs were dismantled and offered in a flat pack for 12 pounds each (guests having priority over their assigned chair during the event). Lord Snowdon bought six copies for his personal collection.
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Depending on their condition and provenance, surviving chairs can fetch a few thousand pounds at auction, such as those sold for 1,900 pounds ($2,500) in July 2020 at Dreweatt auction, although this amount is well above average.
The pair offered at Christie's on September 24, on the other hand, were immaculate and came straight from the collection of their creator, Lord Snowdon himself. Offered with an estimate of 2,000 to 4,000 pounds ($2,500-5,000), the two chairs sold for 43,750 pounds including fees ($56,600), setting the world record for the design at auction.
“The success of the sale is a testament to the memory and esteem for Lord Snowdon and the intrigue this very personal collection has generated,” said Benedict Winter, Head of Sale, in a statement.
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The auction entitled "Snowdon: A Life in Art and Objects" comprised 143 lots, including several works attesting to the different creative phases of Lord Snowdon during his life, such as a photographic portrait of David Hockney (1963) that sold for 8,125 pounds ($10,500). According to Christie's, the sale attracted collectors from over twenty countries around the world, strengthening Lord Snowdon's reputation in the UK and abroad.
