The firm of James Newton is recorded at 63 Wardour Street between 1773 and 1821. His business was at its peak from circa 1797 to 1820 and he supplied furniture during this period to several houses including Burghley, Osterley, Taymouth Castle and Belton, Lincolnshire, to which he supplied a chiffonier that was sold by Lord Brownlow in Christie's house sale, 30 April-2 May 1984, lot 112.
The table reflects the English Regency passion for the elegant French forms of the Empire period. The X-frame supports are a development of a type most famously and elegantly used by Adam Weisweiler (see, for example: P.Lemonnier, Weisweiler, Paris, 1983, p.88). It was often used in England by the cabinet-maker John McLean for a series of games-tables including one at Saltram House, Devonshire (see: S.Redburn, 'John McLean and Son', Furniture History, 1978, pl.43A). By the Restoration period French variants of the design were also fairly heavy in conception and a table-en-auge with very similar supports was sold anonymously, Sotheby's Monaco, 4 March 1984, lot 592.