Lot Essay
The Pembroke-table, serving as a breakfasting table in bedroom apartments, is embellished in the George III Roman or antique manner with a medallion and tablets beribboned by golden and Etruscan-black bands. Its pattern corresponds to a pembroke table bearing the label of Henry Kettle with similar inlay, elegant tapering legs, and block feet, illustrated in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 36 and 289, fig. 543. Kettle was primarily a partner of William Henshaw and then took over from Philip Bell at 23 St Paul's Church Yard circa 1777. He is also discussed in G. Wills, 'Some Labelled Furniture at Saltram', Furniture History, Leeds, 1966, vol. II, p. 37 (pl XIX).