Lot Essay
This table is designed in the early 19th Century 'antique' style with its exotic veneers enriched with ormolu mounts and inlay and it is likely to have been designed en suite with a central 'library' table, such as that illustrated in George Smith in his Collection of designs for Household Furniture, 1808, pl.89.
The combination of calamander and brass inlay, particularly the central star, suggests that this card-table is by George Oakley (d.1840) of Old Bond Street. He was described in 1807 as being famous for 'goods in the latest fashion' and three years later supplied 'buhl' work furniture to george, Prince of Wales, later George IV (see: The Dictionary of English Furniture-Makers, Leeds, 1986, pp.654-660) Oakley's nost famous commission was for John Madryll Cheere at Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire. The bookcase from that commission is lot 117 in this sale.
The combination of calamander and brass inlay, particularly the central star, suggests that this card-table is by George Oakley (d.1840) of Old Bond Street. He was described in 1807 as being famous for 'goods in the latest fashion' and three years later supplied 'buhl' work furniture to george, Prince of Wales, later George IV (see: The Dictionary of English Furniture-Makers, Leeds, 1986, pp.654-660) Oakley's nost famous commission was for John Madryll Cheere at Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire. The bookcase from that commission is lot 117 in this sale.