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Lot Essay
The chalk inscription to the underside of the present table almost certainly refers to Bulstrode Park, Buckinghamshire, which was owned by the Dukes of Somerset from circa 1809, being rebuilt in its present form in 1865 by Edward Adolphus Seymour, 12th Duke of Somerset, (circa 1804-1885). When the 12th Duke died there was no male heir so the house and estate passed to his third daughter, Lady Helen Guendolen Ramsden and then to her son Sir John Frecheville Ramsden.
Sir John sold many of the contents of the house at a two day sale held on onsite by Christie's in 1932 but retained the house. Part of the house was requisitioned during the second war for the use of the WAFF and was subsequently used for various enterprises with Sir John apparently retaining ownership until his death in 1958 when the house and remaining contents were sold. It was in this Curtis & Henson sale that the present table almost certainly appears as lot 298; it was then described as "An important giltwood side-table by William Kent with canted corners and leafage and nulled carved frieze, the apron carved with an eagle with outspread wings and festoons of drapery, supported on four massive shaped legs carved with acanthus foliage surmounted by a verde marble top, 8 feet long and 3 feet 2 in. deep."
It is most likely that Sir Colville Barclay purchased the present table at this sale for his newly acquired house, Pitshill, West Sussex, which he acquired when he moved from Denham, Buckinghamshire.
This table passed into the Collection of the Pearson family in 1997 when Pitshill and many of its contents were purchased by the Hon. Charles Pearson, who later moved this table and a similar table (lot 360 in this sale) to Dunecht.
Sir John sold many of the contents of the house at a two day sale held on onsite by Christie's in 1932 but retained the house. Part of the house was requisitioned during the second war for the use of the WAFF and was subsequently used for various enterprises with Sir John apparently retaining ownership until his death in 1958 when the house and remaining contents were sold. It was in this Curtis & Henson sale that the present table almost certainly appears as lot 298; it was then described as "An important giltwood side-table by William Kent with canted corners and leafage and nulled carved frieze, the apron carved with an eagle with outspread wings and festoons of drapery, supported on four massive shaped legs carved with acanthus foliage surmounted by a verde marble top, 8 feet long and 3 feet 2 in. deep."
It is most likely that Sir Colville Barclay purchased the present table at this sale for his newly acquired house, Pitshill, West Sussex, which he acquired when he moved from Denham, Buckinghamshire.
This table passed into the Collection of the Pearson family in 1997 when Pitshill and many of its contents were purchased by the Hon. Charles Pearson, who later moved this table and a similar table (lot 360 in this sale) to Dunecht.