Lot Essay
Thomas Barton (1819-1903) was one of the leading Tunbridge Ware manufacturers. He was a pupil of Edmund Nye until Nye's death in 1863, when he took over Nye's business which was based in Tunbridge Wells. Although this work-table does not bear one of Barton's labels, there are several characteristics which point fairly conclusively to Barton's manufactory: the O X O pattern banding surrounding the centre of the top can be found on two boxes in a private collection, both with Barton labels; the rose banding at the edge of the top also appears on one of these boxes; the use of gadrooned edges is found on another Barton table (illustrated in B. Austen, Tunbridge Ware and Related European Decorative Woodwares, rev.ed., Bury St. Edmunds, 1992, p. 117, pl. 53) and Barton frequently used ebony veneers on his Tunbridge wares.
We are grateful to Dr. Brian Austen for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.
We are grateful to Dr. Brian Austen for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.