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Lot Essay
This elegant Nähtischen, conceived in the Prussian Court style of the mid-1760, is part of a group of closely related occasional tables by the celebrated Hofbauschreiner Johann Friedrich (b. 1726) and Heinrich Wilhelm (b. 1738) Spindler. The group is generally linked to a marquetry table by the Spindler brothers, which incorporates a portrait medallion, possibly of Queen Elisabeth Christine of Prussia (1715-1797), and was executed circa 1765-8 for the Neues Palais at Potsdam (H. Kreisel G. Himmelheber, Die Kunst des Deutschen Möbels, Munich, 1986, vol. II, fig. 797). A further, closely related example, also with a portait medallion of the Queen, was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 24 March 1994, lot 196, ($ 25300) whereas another example embellished with floral marquetry, was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 16 December 1999, lot 92 (£ 58700)
The present table probably bears the closest resemblance to two polychrome-decorated tables at Huis Doorn near Utrecht in Holland, where Emperor Wilhelm II lived in exile from 1920 till 1941, and which he furnished with pictures, furniture, porcelain, silver and tapesties from various of the Hohenzollern residences in and around Berlin. Both tables, which are stamped N.P. for Neues Palais, are decorated with flower-sprays, one on a green, the other on a red-painted ground. The tables are enriched with distinctive silvered-bronze mounts, identical to those on the present table, and similar to those on other pieces by Spindler at Huis Doorn (B. Göres in J. Gabler and J. Julier, Kaiserlicher Kunstbesitz aus dem Holländischen Exil Haus Doorn, Berlin, 1991, pp. 97-98, cat. nrs. 85-86)
The present table probably bears the closest resemblance to two polychrome-decorated tables at Huis Doorn near Utrecht in Holland, where Emperor Wilhelm II lived in exile from 1920 till 1941, and which he furnished with pictures, furniture, porcelain, silver and tapesties from various of the Hohenzollern residences in and around Berlin. Both tables, which are stamped N.P. for Neues Palais, are decorated with flower-sprays, one on a green, the other on a red-painted ground. The tables are enriched with distinctive silvered-bronze mounts, identical to those on the present table, and similar to those on other pieces by Spindler at Huis Doorn (B. Göres in J. Gabler and J. Julier, Kaiserlicher Kunstbesitz aus dem Holländischen Exil Haus Doorn, Berlin, 1991, pp. 97-98, cat. nrs. 85-86)