ONE GEORGE III AND CIRCA 1775, THREE LEGS WITH LOWER 7 INCH SECTIONS REPLACED AND RIGHT REAR LEG LATER, ATTRIBUTED TO MAYHEW AND INCE, THE OTHER LATE 19TH CENTURY

This elliptical Georgian side table and its later pair are each inlaid with a central Palmyrian scalloped fan hung with scrolling acanthus vines, reflecting the 'Roman' fashion introduced in the l760s by Robert and James Adam and popularised in the following decade by their The Works in Architecture, 1773-1779. The design elements as well as the use of shaded and engraved marquetry are characteristic of the work of the pre-eminent Golden Square firm of Mayhew and Ince. Although records exist of their commissions, it is often difficult to firmly attribute their works owing to the unpredictable variations in style, construction and quality of workmanship.

The elliptical medallions feature on a number of commodes and side tables executed by this firm (see for example, L. Wood, The Lady Lever Art Gallery: Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, cat. nos. 21-28), while the repeating anthemion border is used in the frieze of a commode at Badminton (ibid, fig. 222, p. 232). The crossed palm frond motif corresponds to that inlaid into the top of a commode, probably supplied with a pair of corner cupboards, to Archibald Douglas, later 1st Baron Douglas, circa 1773 and now in the Lady Lever Collection (ibid., cat. no. 22, pp. 195-202). This same motif also appears on a bonheur-du-jour attributed to the firm offered anonymously, Christie's London, 19 November 1992, lot 89.