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Lot Essay
Richard Myddelton's sideboard-table, commissioned for the display of his ancient family plate, reflects the eclectic 'modern' fashion that instigated George III's reign; and featured in John Mayhew and William Ince's Universal System of Household Furniture, 1762, and Thomas Chippendale's Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1754-62). It combines antiquarian British elements with the antique flutes of the 'Roman' style promoted by the Rome-trained court architects Robert Adam and Sir William Chambers. A Grecian ribbon-guilloche frets its fine mahogany table-top with 'gothic' crenellations; while qautrefoiled Roman acanthus flowers the frieze's libation-plate paterae.
This romantic 'castle' style harmonises with Chirk's banqueting hall chairs (J. Shurmer, Chirk Castle, 2002) which, like the Earl of Pembroke's 'Chippendale' hall chairs, relate to one of Chippendale's 'Hall Chair' patterns (Chippendale, ibid., 1762, pl. 18; and A. Coleridge, Chippendale Furniture, 1968). All of this furniture in the 'Gothick' taste was almost certainly commissioned at the time of Richard Myddelton's 1761 marriage to Elizabeth Rushout, daughter of Sir John Rushout Bt of Northwick, Middlesex, this union stimulated Richard into modernising Chirk. Interestingly, he employed the architect William Yoxall of Nantwich until 1764, who had proposed the use of 'good Modern Gothick' for transforming the Castle's interiors.
This table is almost certainly the 'Mahogany Sideboard, pair of Pedestals, Oafses (vases?) and Cellaret 21.0.0' recorded in the Dining Room in the 1795 Inventory. With its Neoclassical plasterwork executed by Mr Kiddermister in 177(?), this room was next door to the Saloon on the piano nobile. The proportions of Mayhew and Ince's magnificent demi-lune pier tables in the Saloon supplied in 1782 - which would have been visible en enfilade with this table if it was placed in front of the window - are apparently identical.
The only other side table listed in the 1795 Inventory - probably that now on loan to the National Trust in the State Dining Room - is smaller and was less valuable - 'Mahogany Side Board 3.0.0' in The Hall.
This romantic 'castle' style harmonises with Chirk's banqueting hall chairs (J. Shurmer, Chirk Castle, 2002) which, like the Earl of Pembroke's 'Chippendale' hall chairs, relate to one of Chippendale's 'Hall Chair' patterns (Chippendale, ibid., 1762, pl. 18; and A. Coleridge, Chippendale Furniture, 1968). All of this furniture in the 'Gothick' taste was almost certainly commissioned at the time of Richard Myddelton's 1761 marriage to Elizabeth Rushout, daughter of Sir John Rushout Bt of Northwick, Middlesex, this union stimulated Richard into modernising Chirk. Interestingly, he employed the architect William Yoxall of Nantwich until 1764, who had proposed the use of 'good Modern Gothick' for transforming the Castle's interiors.
This table is almost certainly the 'Mahogany Sideboard, pair of Pedestals, Oafses (vases?) and Cellaret 21.0.0' recorded in the Dining Room in the 1795 Inventory. With its Neoclassical plasterwork executed by Mr Kiddermister in 177(?), this room was next door to the Saloon on the piano nobile. The proportions of Mayhew and Ince's magnificent demi-lune pier tables in the Saloon supplied in 1782 - which would have been visible en enfilade with this table if it was placed in front of the window - are apparently identical.
The only other side table listed in the 1795 Inventory - probably that now on loan to the National Trust in the State Dining Room - is smaller and was less valuable - 'Mahogany Side Board 3.0.0' in The Hall.