The Norrie State Dining Room

 

Beauty and style are the hallmarks of a formal dinner in the State Dining Room.

The Norrie State Dining Room in Government House Wellington features a long, extending table that dates from about 1880 and can seat up to 26 guests.  The room is one of the most authentic in the House and has high heritage values.  It is where State Dinners for visiting Heads of State are often held.

The room is named after Sir Willoughby (later Lord) and Lady Norrie (1952-7) who donated to New Zealand and Government House the remarkable royal portraits which are a feature of the room.  In presenting the paintings to Prime Minister Holland, Lord Norrie said he was presenting the collection to thank New Zealand for the five happiest years of his life. The collection includes:

• The Children of Charles I, School of Sir Anthony van Dyck
• King Charles I, School of Sir Anthony van Dyck
• Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I), Albert Kraaft
• King Henry VIII, artist unknown – English School
• Queen Elizabeth I, Mather Brown
• King Edward VI, artist unknown
• Queen Mary I, Marcus Gheerserts the Younger
• King Charles II, artist unknown – English School
• King James II, artist unknown – English School
• Oliver Cromwell, Robert Walker
• King Richard II, artist unknown
• Prince George of Denmark (husband of Queen Anne), Sir Godfrey Kneller

The 38 tapestry chairs were created by branches of the Country Women’s Institute in the 1950s, for the cancelled visit of King George VI.   The design on the back of each chair is the coat of arms of a New Zealand city or borough.  The carver chairs (with arms) are the four major cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

A feature of the room is the House silver including the statuette of the first Duke of Wellington riding his horse Copenhagen, bought for the House during the term of Viscount Cobham, a kinsman; and the Vogel Silver, which includes the large sterling epergne, presented to Sir Julius Vogel by the people of Dunedin.  The silver was given to the House by Mrs Jocelyn Vogel, the widow of Prime Minister Sir Julius Vogel's grandson.  More recent additions include the Spanish galleon presented by King Juan Carlos of Spain when he stayed in the House in 1989, and the two silver pheasants which were given by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands during a State Visit in 1992.

The large gilt mirror was once owned by Sir George Grey and the brass pendant candelabrum was found in storage and restored and hung by Lady Beattie, during Sir David Beattie’s term (1980-85).  The fire screen is of silk needlework, dating from about 1850.

Considerable work was undertaken as a part of the Conservation Project.  In the past, the rimu panelling was painted and as a part of the project the layers of paint were methodically removed.  The narrow width axminster carpet is a heritage replica based on photographs and inventories of the original while the drapery fabric was closely matched to that shown in historic photographs.