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Lot Essay
This library centre table is one of a distinct group of virtually identical tables executed in a variety of timbers including rosewood, mahogany and oak, and with very similar inlaid flower and wreath ornament. It is inspired by Thomas Hope’s design for a ‘round monopodium or table in mahogany, inlaid in ebony and silver’ illustrated in his Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807, pl. XXXIX. Hope may have been assisted by his architect, Charles Heathcote Tatham (d. 1842) who, it has been suggested, paved the way for Henry Holland, Hope himself and George Smith (‘Tatham and Italy: Influences on English neo-classical design’, Furniture History Society, vol. 38, 2002, p. 62).
Holland had employed and sponsored C.H. Tatham on his Grand Tour from 1794 - 96 to act as his agent in the purchase of antiquities and casts with which to furnish the Prince of Wales’ London house, Carlton House, and to study and illustrate classical remains. Upon his return to England C.H. Tatham published his pen and ink drawings of antique fragments in Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture drawn from the Originals in Rome (1799).
The present table was possibly executed by Marsh & Tatham celebrated as 'Upholders’ to George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) who supplied furniture for Carlton House, London; they were also frequented by a number of significant aristocratic patrons. In 1795, William Marsh (fl. 1774–85), who had supplied furniture for the Brighton Pavilion, and George Elward, were joined by Thomas Tatham (d. 1818), elder brother of C.H. Tatham, and the firm became Elward, Marsh & Tatham (until 1803 when they became Marsh & Tatham). After 1796, Holland increasingly turned to Elward, Marsh & Tatham during his refurbishment of Carlton House, Brighton Pavilion and Southill, Bedfordshire. C.H. Tatham, in addition to providing neo-classical design inspiration for the furniture made by Marsh & Tatham, was also instrumental in securing the firm important commissions; bills in the Castle Howard archive show that he engaged Marsh & Tatham on at least two separate occasions, firstly between September 1801 to July 1802 for work on the Gallery and Museum, and again from 1811 to 1812 for work on the North Gallery and Octagon.
The gilt-bronze lion masks may have been supplied by Alexis Decaix (d. 1811) of Old Bond Street, the French bronzier and modeller who served as the Prince of Wales’s bronze-founder and whose work was praised by the connoisseur Thomas Hope.
A similar table in mahogany was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 23 November 2006, lot 62 (£45,600 including premium) and another in the same sale, lot 63 (£31,200 including premium).
Holland had employed and sponsored C.H. Tatham on his Grand Tour from 1794 - 96 to act as his agent in the purchase of antiquities and casts with which to furnish the Prince of Wales’ London house, Carlton House, and to study and illustrate classical remains. Upon his return to England C.H. Tatham published his pen and ink drawings of antique fragments in Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture drawn from the Originals in Rome (1799).
The present table was possibly executed by Marsh & Tatham celebrated as 'Upholders’ to George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) who supplied furniture for Carlton House, London; they were also frequented by a number of significant aristocratic patrons. In 1795, William Marsh (fl. 1774–85), who had supplied furniture for the Brighton Pavilion, and George Elward, were joined by Thomas Tatham (d. 1818), elder brother of C.H. Tatham, and the firm became Elward, Marsh & Tatham (until 1803 when they became Marsh & Tatham). After 1796, Holland increasingly turned to Elward, Marsh & Tatham during his refurbishment of Carlton House, Brighton Pavilion and Southill, Bedfordshire. C.H. Tatham, in addition to providing neo-classical design inspiration for the furniture made by Marsh & Tatham, was also instrumental in securing the firm important commissions; bills in the Castle Howard archive show that he engaged Marsh & Tatham on at least two separate occasions, firstly between September 1801 to July 1802 for work on the Gallery and Museum, and again from 1811 to 1812 for work on the North Gallery and Octagon.
The gilt-bronze lion masks may have been supplied by Alexis Decaix (d. 1811) of Old Bond Street, the French bronzier and modeller who served as the Prince of Wales’s bronze-founder and whose work was praised by the connoisseur Thomas Hope.
A similar table in mahogany was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 23 November 2006, lot 62 (£45,600 including premium) and another in the same sale, lot 63 (£31,200 including premium).