A WILLIAM AND MARY FIGURED WALNUT READING-TABLE

Details

A WILLIAM AND MARY FIGURED WALNUT READING-TABLE
The moulded rectangular hinged crossbanded top inlaid with feather-banding with reading-stop and a ratchetted support to the underside, the sides with candleslides, above two frieze drawers flanked by a further four drawers above an arched apron, on six ring-turned facetted baluster legs joined by an arched and waved stretcher, on scrolled feet, minor restorations to veneer, one back foot replaced, the top central drawer replaced, the handles replaced
35¾ in. (91 cm.) wide; 29¼ in. (74 cm.) high; 20 in. (51 cm.) deep

Provenance

The Dower House Ltd, Newbury, June 1951
The Rollason Collection,
Thence by descent to Melvyn H. Rollason Esq., sold in these Rooms, 17 November 1983, lot 62.

Literature

The Eleventh Antique Dealer's Fair and Exhibition, Hand Book of Exhibitors, June 1951, illustrated p. 38, 'A rare William and Mary walnut writing-table in untouched condition. Circa 1690.'
G. Beard and J. Goodison, English Furniture 1500-1840, Oxford, 1987, p. 53, fig. 4

Exhibited

London, Grosvenor House, The Eleventh Antique Dealer's Fair and Exhibition, June, 1951, by The Dower House, Stand no 72.

Lot Essay

A virtually identical William and Mary walnut writing-table was sold by the Executors of Mrs. A.M. Shannon Munn, in these Rooms, 30 June 1966, lot 118 (£1,300). This table shared not only, the overall shape and size, but also details such as the double beading around the drawers, the key escutcheons, the waved stretcher and the candleslides. The differences lie in the figuring of the walnut veneer, the handles, and most importantly, the feet. Contrastingly the scrolled feet have patera to each of the sides and are splayed outwards, rather than straight ahead.
Another related 'Queen Anne writing table' was exhibited at the Exhibition of Art Treasures, London, 1928, by Reginald Clifford, of Grafton Galleries, and is illustrated in the Catalogue p. 14, no. 72.

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