No sales tax is due on the purchase price of this … Read more

Property sold to benefit Rienzi Collection acquisitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (LOTS 82-84) * These lots may be exempt from sales tax as set forth in the Sales Tax Notice in the back of the catalogue. In 1990, Carroll Sterling and Harris Masterson III promised Rienzi, their residence, collection and gardens, to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. In 1999, Rienzi was opened to the public as the museum's European decorative arts collection. Its fine collection of English furniture, carefully assembled over the years, features many notable highlights, such as a pair of giltwood stools from the Spencer House and a pair of corner cabinets by Mayhew and Ince. It also has an excellent collection of First Period Worcester porcelain and important English silver and paintings. The Mastersons, who served on the museum's board of trustees for over forty years, encouraged the museum to add works of art to their collection and, when advisable, to deaccession objects as well. Proceeds from the sale of these three deaccessioned objects will directly benefit Rienzi's art purchasing fund and thereby help it fulfill the wishes of its donors. Katherine S. Howe Director, Rienzi The Museum of Fine Arts. Houston

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY TEA-TABLE*

PROBABLY IRISH, CIRCA 1760

Details

A GEORGE III MAHOGANY TEA-TABLE*
PROBABLY IRISH, CIRCA 1760
The pierced rectangular gallery carved with fretwork, above a blind fretwork frieze on a pounced ground, with blind fret-carved legs with pierced brackets
28 in. (71 cm.) high, 35½ in. (90 cm.) wide, 22½ in. (57 cm.) deep

Provenance

with Arthur Brett and Sons, Ltd., Norwich, England (Olympia Fair, London, 1995).
Bought from Hotspur, Ltd., London in 1995.

Special notice

No sales tax is due on the purchase price of this lot if it is picked up or delivered in the State of New York.

Lot Essay

The Chinese-style fretwork on this table is laid on a 'pounced' ground, designed to give more prominence to the smooth raised fretwork. This pouncing is a characteristic of Irish furniture, often seen on the aprons of side tables. The way the top is fixed on, with glue blocks rather than screws, is also an Irish characteristic.

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