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Lot Essay
This finely executed table can be attributed to the St. Martin's Lane workshop of Thomas Chippendale (d.1779) based on its signature design. In 1764, Chippendale supplied two closely related tables, veneered in amber-colored 'Guadelupe' mahogany to Sir Lawrence Dundas for his London mansion at 19 Arlington Street (see C. Gilbert, The Life and Works of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. I, pp.156 and 159). A further three tables of this form exist at Harewood House corresponding to a Chippendale design of circa 1772 (ibid., vol.II, pp. 254, 256, figs. 464, 469). The same base features on a pair of candlestands supplied by Chippendale in 1774 for Paxton House (ibid., vol.II, p.212, fig.385) and the Gothic-cusped flutes appear on a firescreen supplied in the mid-1770's for Newby Hall, Yorkshire (ibid., vol.II, p.134, fig.334).
The table's inlaid sunflower serves as a poetic trophy to recall the ceiling of Apollo's temple, known through its illustration in Richard Wood's Ruins of the Temple of the Sun at Palmyra, 1753. A similar sunflower motif was employed by Chippendale on the celebrated bookcases delivered for Pembroke House, London and now at Wilton House.
Evidently the design was popular as, in addition to those recorded in prominent collections noted above, numberous similar tables are recorded on the market. One in satinwood with contrasting sabicu was sold from a New York Townhouse Collection, Christie's, New York, 15 April 2005, lot 233 ($102,000 including premium). Another similar example was sold Christie's, London, 27 November 2003, lot 15 (£71,700 including premium). A slightly simpler model was sold Christie's, London, 6 July 2000, lot 65 (£67,550 including premium) and another example was sold Christie's, London, 11 November 1999, lot 30 (£84,000 including premium).
The table's inlaid sunflower serves as a poetic trophy to recall the ceiling of Apollo's temple, known through its illustration in Richard Wood's Ruins of the Temple of the Sun at Palmyra, 1753. A similar sunflower motif was employed by Chippendale on the celebrated bookcases delivered for Pembroke House, London and now at Wilton House.
Evidently the design was popular as, in addition to those recorded in prominent collections noted above, numberous similar tables are recorded on the market. One in satinwood with contrasting sabicu was sold from a New York Townhouse Collection, Christie's, New York, 15 April 2005, lot 233 ($102,000 including premium). Another similar example was sold Christie's, London, 27 November 2003, lot 15 (£71,700 including premium). A slightly simpler model was sold Christie's, London, 6 July 2000, lot 65 (£67,550 including premium) and another example was sold Christie's, London, 11 November 1999, lot 30 (£84,000 including premium).