The First Drawing Room

In 1976 damask to hang on the walls was specially woven by the Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company. The decoration is now a reconstruction of what was originally intended when the room was completed in the 1780's. The roundel in the ceiling depicting the Disarming of Cupid was painted by Antonio Zucchi but, unfortunately, during the 19th century a gasolier was suspended from the centre of it, not only damaging the painting, but causing considerable discolouration to the whole ceiling which has now been carefully restored. The portrait by Mossman, between the windows, is of Thomas, 9th Earl of Cassillis . It was his brother, David, the 10th Earl, who had the house remodelled and enlarged. The portraits on the south wall are of the 2nd wife of the 6th Earl of Cassillis and the fist wife of the 7th Earl whose portrait hangs in the Picture Room next door. The pair of seascapes on each side of the china cabinet are by Charles Brooking (1723-1759).

The chimneyglass was made in 1977 to a design by Robert Adam in the Soane Museum. It will be noticed that it incorporates swans which are the supporters of the Cassillis coat-of-arms together with an Earl's coronet, so -who knows - the mirror may well have been designed for Culzean in the first place. The girandoles on each side of the chimney piece were also designed by Robert Adam and are part of the original furnishing of the house; likewise the china cabinet containing sixteen Paris porcelain plates with views of that city. The giltwood pier tables are English; one is 18th-century and the other a later copy.

The upholstered furniture dates from the third quarter of the 18th century and reflects the designs of Thomas Chippendale. The writing table, however, is Regency; the pair of half-circle tables under the girandoles are Dutch, of neoclassical design.