Lot Essay
This unusual pair of side tables with shaped frieze and hoof foot relate to a single side table with hoof foot that exists in the hall at Castletown House, Co. Kildare, Ireland (J. O'Brien and D. Guinness, Great Irish Houses and Castles, London, 1992, p. 55.). A similar side table with marble top, related frieze and angle bracket design, but executed in oak was sold in these Rooms, 13 July 1989, lot 87.
Yester House was the seat of the Marquesses of Tweeddale since the 13th Century. Nearby Yester Castle was built by Hugo Gifford in the 13th Century, whose descendant John Hay of Yester, the 2nd Earl and 1st Marquess of Tweeddale built the first house on the present site in the late 17th Century. Yester was remodelled several times over the next 150 years, notably from 1697 when the 2nd Marquess employed James Smith and Alexander McGill to build the main block of the house. The subsequent alterations made to the house never lost the simple purity of Smith's original design. The major internal changes to the house were instigated by the 4th Marquess (d. 1762) who inherited in 1715. By 1729 the up-and-coming architect William Adam had drawn up proposals for alterations to Yester costing 1,100. These were completed by 1748. His plans for Yester were later included in his publication Vitruvius Scoticus, plates 28 & 29. At the end of the century, William Adam's son Robert worked at Yester, rebuilding the staircase and remodelling the saloon. After 1830, the architect Robert Brown of Edinburgh was involved in further alterations.
Yester House was the seat of the Marquesses of Tweeddale since the 13th Century. Nearby Yester Castle was built by Hugo Gifford in the 13th Century, whose descendant John Hay of Yester, the 2nd Earl and 1st Marquess of Tweeddale built the first house on the present site in the late 17th Century. Yester was remodelled several times over the next 150 years, notably from 1697 when the 2nd Marquess employed James Smith and Alexander McGill to build the main block of the house. The subsequent alterations made to the house never lost the simple purity of Smith's original design. The major internal changes to the house were instigated by the 4th Marquess (d. 1762) who inherited in 1715. By 1729 the up-and-coming architect William Adam had drawn up proposals for alterations to Yester costing 1,100. These were completed by 1748. His plans for Yester were later included in his publication Vitruvius Scoticus, plates 28 & 29. At the end of the century, William Adam's son Robert worked at Yester, rebuilding the staircase and remodelling the saloon. After 1830, the architect Robert Brown of Edinburgh was involved in further alterations.