The compendious Blue Guide to Victorian Architecture in Britain contains no entries for the architect and designer Charles Locke Eastlake (1836-1906), and only one in passing for his uncle Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793-1865) a distinguished painter, both were sons of Devon.
 
Why did Charles the younger became a household name in the USA, testament to which were two lots - a table and stained glass door panels - in the auction last week at Kamelot in Philadelphia which were described as being in the 'Eastlake style'?
 
In 1868 Eastlake published Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and Other Details, which was printed in America in 1872 and became so popular there that six editions were printed within eleven years.
 
The book reflects the trend towards medieval and rustic cottage interiors of the English Arts & Crafts and Aesthetic movements, with an emphasis, as it would in 1868, towards the South Kensington school of design with a curious mixture of incised motifs and heraldicwork, and some Dresserisms.
 
In the USA, furniture makers imitated his designs, and in Eastlake-inspired houses architectural ornamentation copied the furniture inside the house. Manufacturers of machine-made furniture which Eastlake deplored also copied the Eastlake style as it was illustrated in his book. Eastlake style became a kind of catchall term meaning different things to different people. Eastlake himself commenting on his influence in the United States, said, "I find American tradesmen continually advertising what they are pleased to call Eastlake furniture, the production of which I have had nothing whatever to do, and for the taste of which I should be very sorry to be considered responsible."
 
Top lot in Kamelot's sale of antiques and architecturals were the two leaded half-glazed brightly coloured geometric lights which sold for $1,700 (see pic). Although decidedly American, this kind of bold glazed decoration can sometimes be seen in English cubic brass-framed coloured glass hall lanterns, but these are never described as 'Eastlake style' in England.
 
A 'set of three French bronze and iron vertical locks having ornate gilt bronze handles and keepers', which we call espagnolettes. These had hints of the Egyptian revival and Empire but were probably later, and sold for a triple estimate $1,300.
 
Lot 891 was a fine pair of floor-standing oak pharmacy cabinets, a pierced gallery above a frieze beautifully (and unusually) carved in the flamboyant gothic style, over linenfold panels, which sold for $1,100.
 
Unsold was a fabulous industrial-looking green enamelled steel? vitrolite-topped? 1940s coffee bar with cupboards and mirrored alcoves which was on offer for $750 after the sale.