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Lot Essay
These elegant tables are conceived in the French pittoresque manner. Their quarter-veneered borders and distinctive scrolling foliate design relates closely to the work of Christopher Fuhrlohg (d. circa 1787), the Swedish 'inlayer' who was trained in Paris and employed in John Linnell's Berkeley Square workshop. He established his own workshop on Tottenham Court Road and was appointed ebeniste to George, Prince of Wales, later George IV in circa 1780. A square piano attributed to Fuhrlohg in the collection of the Lady Lever Gallery, Port Sunlight is illustrated and discussed along with other related pieces in L. Wood, Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, no.10, pp.115-122. A closely related table was sold, the property of a Lady, Christie's London, 8 July 1993, lot 34.
These fascinating table tops feature trompe l'oeil playing cards, an unusual device that can be found worked in needlepoint on the interior playing surface (see a table sold Christie's London, 23 June 1932, lot 55). This type of design was probably inspired by scagliola table tops executed by Italian artisans and acquired by many English gentleman as a souvenir of their Grand Tour travels.
These fascinating table tops feature trompe l'oeil playing cards, an unusual device that can be found worked in needlepoint on the interior playing surface (see a table sold Christie's London, 23 June 1932, lot 55). This type of design was probably inspired by scagliola table tops executed by Italian artisans and acquired by many English gentleman as a souvenir of their Grand Tour travels.