The enfilade – the aligned sequence of state rooms – continues. No matter which high-ranking figure was striding through the rooms, they would have noticed that the furnishing fabrics in the Second Anteroom were once again more lavish and more spectacular than in the previous rooms. The message was clear: just a few more steps to go to the Audience Chamber.
In the Second Anteroom, dazzling crimson silk velvet once again dominates the scene. Add to that the borders of galloon trim, which then as now was applied so skilfully that they appeared like ornamental bands with latticework inserts.
Decorating the Second Anteroom used up almost two thousand metres of gold galloon trim – just under 2,200 yards. In the Corner State Room, it was just 200 metres – a bare 220 yards. Once again, that provides impressive evidence of how the textile furnishings in the State Apartment become ever more costly and more magnificent from one room to the next.
