CIRCA 1750

The idiosyncratic side table shares certain characteristics with other Irish tables while eschewing their most obvious carved features of prominently displayed masks, flower baskets and scallop shells. The carver occupied a special place in the cabinet trade and the deep frieze typical of Irish tables offered the carver a broad canvas on which to demonstrate his skill. The flowing acanthus foliage featured on the present table is similar to that on the frieze of a secretaire-cabinet of 1730 - 40, while the leaf clasp at the top of each leg with almost parallel veining terminating in strapwork scrolls recalls a table of circa 1750 probably supplied to the 5th Earl of Antrim for Glenarm Castle, and another in the City Art Museum of St. Louis (The Knight of Glin and J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven and London, 2007, p. 53, fig. 51; pp. 111 - 113, fig. 147; and p. 224, fig. 75). Other examples, like the present lot, provided the opportunity for the display of a family crest, here the arms are puzzlingly those of the English Huttons with another in pretence as borne by the Huttons of Gale and Hutton Hall, Cumberland, and Goldsborough Hall, Yorkshire.