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Lot Essay
The present table, displaying a central tablet of an urn with foliate swags, and oval paterae on the frieze, is designed in the neoclassical style introduced by Robert Adam (1728-92), and widely adopted by his contemporaries including James Wyatt (1746-1813). A pair of demi-lune white-painted pier tables, designed by Wyatt for the saloon at Castle Coole, Co. Fermanagh, in the 1790s feature similar acanthus-clasped spiral-turned legs (J.M. Robinson, James Wyatt (1746-1813) Architect to George III, New Haven and London, 2011, p. 160, fig. 160). The spiral wrapping of the reeded legs relates to a pair of carved and giltwood pier tables, 1771-72, designed by Adam and executed by the carver and gilder Joseph Perfetti (d. 1777) at Saltram, Devon (NT 871292). While a Gillows design of 1793 illustrates a painted pier table with spiral-wrapped decoration to the legs (L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs, Royston, 1995, fig. 10). A pair of giltwood side tables with marble and scagliola tops, the bases possibly designed by Wyatt, the tops attributed to Dominic Bartoli, c. 1780-85, was sold ‘The Property of Sir Richard Brooke, Bt.’, Christie's, London, 10 July 2014, lot 32. Sir Richard (d. 1781) employed Wyatt in extensively remodelling his mansion, Norton Priory, Cheshire, between 1775 and 1781.
Interestingly, Jeffry Wyatt, later Sir Jeffry Wyatville (d. 1840), the nephew of James Wyatt, who worked in his uncle’s office in Queen Anne Street, London, designed a set of twelve Regency oak dining-chairs with spiral-turned legs, c. 1810-14, for the 6th Duke of Bedford for Endsleigh Cottage, Devon (sold Christie’s, London, 20 September 2004, lot 875 (£38,240 inc. premium)).
Other similar ornamentation can be found on a pair of giltwood side tables supplied to Thomas Connolly for Castletown, Co. Kildare, particularly the block feet, central tablet and fluted frieze with paterae (The Knight of Glin & J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven & London, 2007, p. 108). Another pair of black-painted pine pier tables, circa 1775, topped with specimen marble slabs, at Saltram, also have similar ornamentation on the frieze (NT 871432).
Interestingly, Jeffry Wyatt, later Sir Jeffry Wyatville (d. 1840), the nephew of James Wyatt, who worked in his uncle’s office in Queen Anne Street, London, designed a set of twelve Regency oak dining-chairs with spiral-turned legs, c. 1810-14, for the 6th Duke of Bedford for Endsleigh Cottage, Devon (sold Christie’s, London, 20 September 2004, lot 875 (£38,240 inc. premium)).
Other similar ornamentation can be found on a pair of giltwood side tables supplied to Thomas Connolly for Castletown, Co. Kildare, particularly the block feet, central tablet and fluted frieze with paterae (The Knight of Glin & J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven & London, 2007, p. 108). Another pair of black-painted pine pier tables, circa 1775, topped with specimen marble slabs, at Saltram, also have similar ornamentation on the frieze (NT 871432).