THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

With its circular dished top and finely carved base, this tripod table is typical of the richly carved mahogany that was so sought after by pre-eminent collectors in the middle years of the 20th century, particularly those advised by R. W. Symonds. Whilst Symonds hand is not traced in the purchase of this lot (for a group of furniture bought on the advice of R. W. Symonds, see Christie's, London, 24 November 2005, lots 80-93), it bears the hallmarks of a Symondsian collector, namely excellent rich patination, superb quality and density of timber, confident and crisp carving and 'correct' proportions of the whole. Two similar tripod tables, but with piecrust tops, both formerly owned by Percival Griffiths, were sold anonymously in these Rooms, 14 June 2001, lots 35 & 39 (£135,750 & £82,950).

Another tripod table, with plain top, was sold by a descendent of Geoffrey Blackwell, O.B.E. (1884-1943), one of the great collectors of English furniture in the Symondsian tradition, in these Rooms, 24 November 2005, lot 10 (£102,000).