A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED, BRASS-INLAID, PARCEL-GILT AND ROSEWOOD READING/GAMES TABLE

CIRCA 1810

Details

A REGENCY ORMOLU-MOUNTED, BRASS-INLAID, PARCEL-GILT AND ROSEWOOD READING/GAMES TABLE
Circa 1810
The ratcheted rectangular top with flanking outset galleried sections, each with ormolu molded edge, sliding forward to reveal a well with tooled leather backgammon playing surface and flanked by a small mahogany-lined drawer to each outset section, the leaf tip-panelled frieze above a checkboard playing surface sliding forward over a lower long drawer, on trestle supports joined by a double-scrolled arched stretcher and on laurel leaf-headed splayed legs with brass stringing, the ormolu lions' paw feet with brass casters, inscribed in red ink and again in gold colored ink 274-21-23
29¾in. (75.5cm.) high, 40in. (101.5cm.) wide, 20¾in. (52.5cm.) deep

Provenance

Anonymous sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York, 15 May 1976, lot 177.
Acquired from Devenish & Co., Inc., New York in 1978.

Lot Essay

A table of very similar form is illustrated in Ackermann's The Repository of Arts, January 1814 (reproduced here). Ackermann describes this table as a 'very elegant and tasteful article...intended to serve the double purpose of usefulness and pleasure. In the first, it is convenient as a breakfast or as a sofa-table; it also forms a convenient writing or drawing-table, with drawers for paper, colours, pencil, &c. For the second, a sliding board for the games of chess, drafts, backgammon, &c. which slides under the desk. It is very light, goes upon castors, and is particularly pleasant to sit before, as there is sufficient accommodation for the knees by its projecting top' (see P. Agius, Ackermann's Regency Furniture and Interiors, 1984, pl. 61, pp. 80-81).

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