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拍品专文
This pattern of tray-topped table has become one of the most celebrated examples of the Georgian tea-table, whose social importance in George II's reign was registered by its frequent inclusion in the 'Conversation' paintings of William Hogarth (d. 1764) and his contemporaries. At this period the tables, decked with porcelain equipages, were a feature of both bedroom apartments and the more formal parlours and withdrawing-rooms.
The almost identical, but ungilded tea or centre table, known as Dr Till's table, was sold by his Executors, Christie's, London, 14 June 2001, lot 24 (£311,750). The latter table was a celebrated example of the Georgian tea-table since its inclusion in the definitive work on William and John Linnell (Hayward & Kirkham, op. cit.).
A pair of candlestands described as 'A Pair of high Mahogany Stands with cut rims', with a similar pattern of pierced everted lip as this centre table, was supplied en suite with a 'sideboard table' to the 4th Earl of Dysart (d. 1780) for Ham House, Surrey, in 1741 (P. Thornton, 'The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House', Furniture History, 1980, p. 181, fig. 159). A related pair of torcheres in mahogany and parcel-gilt, from Raby Castle, Co. Durham and later in the James Thursby-Pelham Collection is illustrated in O. Brackett and H. Clifford Smith, English Furniture Illustrated, rev. ed., London, 1950, p. 196, fig. CLXVIII [168]. Another pair of related walnut and parcel-gilt stands with pierced everted lip was sold by the late Samuel Messer, Christie's, London, 5 December 1991, lot 69. The latter's provenance was, subsequent to the catalogue's production, discovered to be from the Viscounts Ullswater, Campsea Ashe, Suffolk and sold circa 1949.
THE ORNAMENT
This mahogany table's carving, appropriate for the tea-ceremony, celebrates the triumphal water-birth of Venus, the Roman nature deity and companion of the Graces. Her scallop-shells grace the centres of tray's bubble-fretted rail, and are framed amongst Roman acanthus on the frame's apron, where they are ribbon-tied to palms that wrap the Ionic volutes of the truss-scrolled and pad-footed legs. The scallop-shell proved a popular embellishment for silver plate produced in the 1740s, such as the grand service provided by the court goldsmith, George Wickes (d. 1761) for the Earl of Kildare, later 1st Duke of Leinster (E. Barr, George Wickes, London, 1980, pp. 197-205).
Unlike the Chinese tea-tables that were imported by the East India Companies with separate trays, this tray and stand are united, as appears to be the case with the design for a related table, featured in the sketch books of the firm of Berkeley Square cabinet-makers, William and John Linnell (Hayward and Kirkham, op. cit., vol. I, p. 78 and vol. II, p. 139, fig. 272).
The almost identical, but ungilded tea or centre table, known as Dr Till's table, was sold by his Executors, Christie's, London, 14 June 2001, lot 24 (£311,750). The latter table was a celebrated example of the Georgian tea-table since its inclusion in the definitive work on William and John Linnell (Hayward & Kirkham, op. cit.).
A pair of candlestands described as 'A Pair of high Mahogany Stands with cut rims', with a similar pattern of pierced everted lip as this centre table, was supplied en suite with a 'sideboard table' to the 4th Earl of Dysart (d. 1780) for Ham House, Surrey, in 1741 (P. Thornton, 'The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House', Furniture History, 1980, p. 181, fig. 159). A related pair of torcheres in mahogany and parcel-gilt, from Raby Castle, Co. Durham and later in the James Thursby-Pelham Collection is illustrated in O. Brackett and H. Clifford Smith, English Furniture Illustrated, rev. ed., London, 1950, p. 196, fig. CLXVIII [168]. Another pair of related walnut and parcel-gilt stands with pierced everted lip was sold by the late Samuel Messer, Christie's, London, 5 December 1991, lot 69. The latter's provenance was, subsequent to the catalogue's production, discovered to be from the Viscounts Ullswater, Campsea Ashe, Suffolk and sold circa 1949.
THE ORNAMENT
This mahogany table's carving, appropriate for the tea-ceremony, celebrates the triumphal water-birth of Venus, the Roman nature deity and companion of the Graces. Her scallop-shells grace the centres of tray's bubble-fretted rail, and are framed amongst Roman acanthus on the frame's apron, where they are ribbon-tied to palms that wrap the Ionic volutes of the truss-scrolled and pad-footed legs. The scallop-shell proved a popular embellishment for silver plate produced in the 1740s, such as the grand service provided by the court goldsmith, George Wickes (d. 1761) for the Earl of Kildare, later 1st Duke of Leinster (E. Barr, George Wickes, London, 1980, pp. 197-205).
Unlike the Chinese tea-tables that were imported by the East India Companies with separate trays, this tray and stand are united, as appears to be the case with the design for a related table, featured in the sketch books of the firm of Berkeley Square cabinet-makers, William and John Linnell (Hayward and Kirkham, op. cit., vol. I, p. 78 and vol. II, p. 139, fig. 272).