CIRCA 1720

Details

A GEORGE I GILT-GESSO CONCERTINA-ACTION GAMES TABLE
CIRCA 1720
The rectangular top with rounded eared corners decorated with a central patera surrounded by oak leaf sprays, acorns, shells and strapwork, opening to a green felt-lined playing surface with gaming wells and patera-carved candle rests, over a similarly-carved frieze, on acanthus-carved turned tapering legs ending in foliate-carved pad feet, with a circular label to underside inscribed KWT, largely regilt
30 in. (76 cm.) high, 34 in. (87 cm.) wide, 17 in. (33 cm.) deep

Provenance

Anonymous sale: Christie's, London, 23 June 1983, lot 48.
with Mallett, London.

Literature

L. Synge, Mallett Millennium, London, 1999, p. 145, fig. 164.

Lot Essay

This richly gilt table represents a rare early example of its form. Its vocabulary of strapwork, scrolling foliage and shellwork was first promoted in around 1700 by the engraved Oeuvres of William III's French 'architect', Daniel Marot (d. 1752). Pieces similarly embellished were carried out by the Pelletier family of carvers and gilders, who supplied pier tables, mirrors, candlestands and frames to William III and Queen Anne among other notable patrons (T. Murdoch, 'Jean, Rene and and Thomas Pelletier, a Huguenot family of carvers and gilders in England 1682-1726', The Burlington Magazine, parts I and II, November 1997 and June 1998) as well as their successor as Royal cabinet-maker James Moore.

A similar table formerly in the collection of Winston Guest was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 13 December 1980, lot 68.

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