Lot Essay
This side table is conceived in the Dutch 'kwabstijl' or auricular style, which was developed by the Utrecht gold- and silversmiths Paulus (c.1570-1613) and Adam van Vianen (1568-1627) and their Amsterdam counterpart Johannes Lutma (1587-1669) The kwabstijl is hence generally associated with the organic precious objects created by these artists. (A. Gruber (ed.), Classicism and the Baroque in Europe, New York, 1996, p. 27) Around 1650 a number of designs for precious metals in this style were brought into print by Adam's son Christiaen and were soon followed by a series of prints by the painter Gerbrand van den Eeckhout (1621-1674), who was the son of a silversmith. Eeckhout's designs were published in 1655 and demonstate a later, more classical, version of the auricular style, which also included designs for furniture. These were particularly suitable for sculptural items of furniture, such as frames, cabinet-stands and side tables. (Catalogus van meubelen en betimmeringen, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1952, p. 55 and R.J. Baarsen, Nederlands Meubelen 1600-1800, Zwolle, 1993, pp. 40-41)
In the Dressing Room or Antechamber of the Duke of Lauderdale at Ham House a very similar side table formed a decorative ensemble with a looking-glass and a pair of candle-stands en suite and was probably placed against a pier between two windows, which was the most common position for this type of furniture. These items are mentioned in the 1677 inventory as 'one glass wt an Abinie [ebony] fram[e], one table and stands of ye same...' and in the following inventory, which was made up in 1679 as 'one table and pr of Stands of black ebony cain'd with leather Covers'. These pieces were probably acquired by the Duchess shortly after an extension had been made to the house in 1670 as a bill of money 'payed out for the Lady Duchess of Lauderdale in Holland by Mistress V. der Huva' in 1672 mentions a 'table and two gadons', which probably refers to the above-mentioned auricular side-table and two guéridons. (P. Thornton, 'The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House', Furniture History Society Journal 16 (1980), pp. 48-51)
See illustration
In the Dressing Room or Antechamber of the Duke of Lauderdale at Ham House a very similar side table formed a decorative ensemble with a looking-glass and a pair of candle-stands en suite and was probably placed against a pier between two windows, which was the most common position for this type of furniture. These items are mentioned in the 1677 inventory as 'one glass wt an Abinie [ebony] fram[e], one table and stands of ye same...' and in the following inventory, which was made up in 1679 as 'one table and pr of Stands of black ebony cain'd with leather Covers'. These pieces were probably acquired by the Duchess shortly after an extension had been made to the house in 1670 as a bill of money 'payed out for the Lady Duchess of Lauderdale in Holland by Mistress V. der Huva' in 1672 mentions a 'table and two gadons', which probably refers to the above-mentioned auricular side-table and two guéridons. (P. Thornton, 'The Furnishing and Decoration of Ham House', Furniture History Society Journal 16 (1980), pp. 48-51)
See illustration