A REGENCY SCARLET AND GILT-JAPANNED TRAY-ON-STAND

THE TRAY EARLY 19TH CENTURY, BY HENRY CLAY

Details

A REGENCY SCARLET AND GILT-JAPANNED TRAY-ON-STAND
The tray early 19th Century, by Henry Clay
Decorated with Chinese pavilions in a mountainous landscape, the underside impressed CLAY LONDON with a crown, on later faux bamboo stand with splayed legs joined by stretchers
17in. (43cm.) high overall, 30in. (76cm.) wide, 22in. (56cm.) deep

Lot Essay

Henry Clay of King St., Covent Garden operated a famous japanning and papier mâché business, initially in Birmingham and then in London, from 1772 until his death in 1842. The technique continued to be used after his death and the 1851 Great Exhibition catalogue noted the superiority of the Clay method over the traditional pulp method of papier mâché production (see G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840, 1986, pp. 176-177).