A pair of George II giltwood pier tables, in the...
resting on imbricated acanthus-carved scrolled legs with oak and acorn garlands, on later bun feet, surmounted by a fluted frieze carved with acanthus, centred by a female mask, flanked by an imbricated scrolled cartouche with a scallop-shell supporting a basket flanked by acanthus-carved scrolls; (associated breccia marble top, the ball feet a later addition)
(2)
Height 34 5/8 in., width 59 in., depth 23 5/8 in. ; Haut. 88 cm, larg. 150 cm, prof. 60 cm
Catalogue Note:
These richly carved, sculptural tables take their design inspiration from the 'Palladian' style spearheaded in England by William Kent. This Italianate mode of ornament, which flourished under George II, has several signature decorative motifs that can be observed on the present table, such as the combination of a fish-scale motif and an overlapping coin motif used on the legs. The scroll form of the legs is also typical, often in combination with oak swags as seen here: for a closely similar scroll leg with swag, see the console table made by William Kent for Wanstead House and now at Wilton House, Salisbury (see Country Life archive image FCH000060833).
This particular model is unusual in its prominent use of the basket as a decorative feature, which is much rarer in Kentian furniture than the related and more prevalent cornucopia motif. There is a documented table by William Kent with a carved apron centred by a basket motif, made for Devonshire House and now at Chatsworth (ill. S. Weber, 'Kent and the Georgian Baroque Style in Furniture: Domestic Commissions', in Kent: Designing Georgian Britain, New Haven, 2013, p.502, fig.18.47). The present example remains unique, though, in using baskets at the capitals of the legs, as well as the fact that the basket at the centre of the apron sits above a female mask, possibly evoking the goddess Ceres. Furniture designed by William Kent including cornucopias includes some of his most famous commissions, such as his work at Houghton Hall, Norfolk (as visible in the Country Life archive images FCH000140534 and FCH000204903) and Holkham (as on the top rail of the settee shown under 'The collections: Furniture at and illustrated in S. Weber, ibid., p.482, fig.18.19.A).
A table of this model was shown in the interior of Joan Lapham, an enthusiastic collector of Kentian furniture (A. Leon Talley, 'Gilt complex', in House & Garden [U.S. edn], March 1988, p.189). The caption notes that this table, which is parcel-gilt and white-painted, "once belonged to the Duke of Kent".
Provenance:
Collection of Ronald Greville, 4th Baron Greville;;
Ronald Greville, 4th Baron Greville;
Sotheby's, London, 20 November 1981, lot 33;
Christie's, London, 14 May 2009, lot 100.
Literature:
D. Hicks, On Decoration, London, 1966, p.72
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
resting on imbricated acanthus-carved scrolled legs with oak and acorn garlands, on later bun feet, surmounted by a fluted frieze carved with acanthus, centred by a female mask, flanked by an imbricated scrolled cartouche with a scallop-shell supporting a basket flanked by acanthus-carved scrolls; (associated breccia marble top, the ball feet a later addition)
(2)
Height 34 5/8 in., width 59 in., depth 23 5/8 in. ; Haut. 88 cm, larg. 150 cm, prof. 60 cm
Catalogue Note:
These richly carved, sculptural tables take their design inspiration from the 'Palladian' style spearheaded in England by William Kent. This Italianate mode of ornament, which flourished under George II, has several signature decorative motifs that can be observed on the present table, such as the combination of a fish-scale motif and an overlapping coin motif used on the legs. The scroll form of the legs is also typical, often in combination with oak swags as seen here: for a closely similar scroll leg with swag, see the console table made by William Kent for Wanstead House and now at Wilton House, Salisbury (see Country Life archive image FCH000060833).
This particular model is unusual in its prominent use of the basket as a decorative feature, which is much rarer in Kentian furniture than the related and more prevalent cornucopia motif. There is a documented table by William Kent with a carved apron centred by a basket motif, made for Devonshire House and now at Chatsworth (ill. S. Weber, 'Kent and the Georgian Baroque Style in Furniture: Domestic Commissions', in Kent: Designing Georgian Britain, New Haven, 2013, p.502, fig.18.47). The present example remains unique, though, in using baskets at the capitals of the legs, as well as the fact that the basket at the centre of the apron sits above a female mask, possibly evoking the goddess Ceres. Furniture designed by William Kent including cornucopias includes some of his most famous commissions, such as his work at Houghton Hall, Norfolk (as visible in the Country Life archive images FCH000140534 and FCH000204903) and Holkham (as on the top rail of the settee shown under 'The collections: Furniture at and illustrated in S. Weber, ibid., p.482, fig.18.19.A).
A table of this model was shown in the interior of Joan Lapham, an enthusiastic collector of Kentian furniture (A. Leon Talley, 'Gilt complex', in House & Garden [U.S. edn], March 1988, p.189). The caption notes that this table, which is parcel-gilt and white-painted, "once belonged to the Duke of Kent".
Provenance:
Collection of Ronald Greville, 4th Baron Greville;;
Ronald Greville, 4th Baron Greville;
Sotheby's, London, 20 November 1981, lot 33;
Christie's, London, 14 May 2009, lot 100.
Literature:
D. Hicks, On Decoration, London, 1966, p.72
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
