An immersive antiques experience is coming to 36 Craven Street in the Charing Cross area of London this summer. Through July 31st, the only surviving residence of Benjamin Franklin will be furnished with period-accurate furniture to truly evoke the sense of everyday life in Georgian England.
Georgian Gems is a collaboration between the Benjamin Franklin House and James Bly Antiques. The rather unassuming home was occupied by Franklin between the period of 1757 to 1775, when he was the tenant of Margaret Stevenson, who began the leasehold of the house in 1748.
The confluence of three anniversaries – America’s Semiquincintennial, John Bly Antique’s 135th year since establishment, and the three hundredth anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s arrival into London – was the catalyst for this partnership. Part of the fifth generation of antiques dealers in the family, James Bly of John Bly Antiques considers this project a true labor of love. While most of the house is populated with furniture from Bly’s inventory on loan, he also had the opportunity to venture out upon a thrilling adventure to procure a couple of significant pieces for display. One example is an oval tilt-top tripod table with extravagant cabriole legs, which caught Bly’s attention due to its generous use of mahogany at the base, a practice that faded away as the scarcity of the material increased. Equipped with the original casters on the feet, this beautiful piece of furniture with its sinuous lines and deep shades would have been used by the original owner for a round of afternoon or morning tea. When not in use, the tilt-top feature made it convenient for storage up against the room’s walls.
Through this upcoming exhibit, the audience can peruse the home unobstructed by velvet ropes or “do not touch” signs. The objects are there to be handled, touched, and discovered, telling their stories not only through their evocative visual forms but through the tangible senses as well – from tracing your fingers over the dancing spirals of the carved oak coffer from 1960 to the delicate aroma of the walnut pine side chairs from 1750. As the world of antiques witnesses a change, with buyers opting for statement pieces to add to their spaces weaving together the old and the new, objects that offer more than just their dashing good looks are more sought after. Georgian gems like these tell an engrossing story about a period when rich materials were plentiful. It’s more about the journey than the destination.
The exhibition is meant to submerge the audience in Franklin’s world, filled with scientific discovery, political transformation and cultural exchange. There is a story in each piece, waiting to be discovered through silent conversation and contemplation as you walk through the wooden halls at 36 Craven Street. A true gem of history connecting the shared past of Britain and America is worth visiting as part of the Semiquincentennial festivities. After all, how often does one get an invitation to visit a Founding Father’s home in London?
Georgian Gems. • The Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, London, UK • to July 31 • benjaminfranklinhouse.org
