A GEORGE I BURR-WALNUT CONCERTINA-ACTION CARD-TABLE

BY BENJAMIN CROOK

Details

A GEORGE I BURR-WALNUT CONCERTINA-ACTION CARD-TABLE
By Benjamin Crook
The rounded eared rectangular top enclosing a green baize-lined playing surface with candle-stands and counter-wells above a frieze drawer with printed paper label 'All S... Cabinet... Mahogany... les Looking Glasses Chairs & C Made & Sold by Benj. Crook at ye George & White Lyon on ye South Side of St. Pauls Church Yard LONDON', on cabriole legs headed by shells and claw feet, restorations to the interior
28 in. (72.5 cm.) high; 33 in. (83 cm.) wide; 16 in. (42.5 deep, closed

Literature

The Connoisseur, December 1931.
C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 169, fig. 265.

Sale room notice

The provenance for this card-table is:

Percival D. Griffiths, Esq. (d.1937) by 1924, Sandridgebury, Hertfordshire, until sold by his Executors, in these Rooms, 10 May 1939, lot 202 (illustrated).

Further literature for the table:

P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1924-7, rev. ed., 1954, p. 155 (under Crook).
R.W. Symonds, English Furniture from Charles II to George II, London, 1929, pp. 47, 182, 264-7, figs. 25, 139 and 217.
Sir A. Heal, The London Furniture Makers, London, 1953, p. 239, fig. 21.
R. Edwards and M. Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, London, rev. ed., 1955, p. 95.

Lot Essay

Benjamin Crook of St. Paul's Church Yard is recorded from 1732 until 1748 when, following his retirement, he advertised an auction of his stock-in-trade. The long list of goods to be sold included a wide range of 'Cabinet Work in Mahogany and Walnut Tree', chairs, tables, mirrors, tea-boards and tea-caddies. His son, also called Benjamin, continued the busines at the same address until 1771.
The four labelled pieces recorded with his distictive circular label are all of excellent quality. They include this card-table (C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 24, 167-169 and figs. 262-266).

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