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Lot Essay
In 1813 Gillows of London and Lancaster supplied a similar 'Set of mahogany Imperial dining tables on stout twined reeded legs and brass socket casters' for Broughton Hall, Yorkshire at a cost of 50 gns. Prior to this Richard Gillow had taken out a patent in 1800 for an extending table, known as the 'Patent Imperial dining-table' (M. Jourdain, Regency Furniture 1795-1830, London, rev. ed., 1965, p. 64-65, fig. 130).
A related example with well-spaced reeded legs and reeded edge to the top, attributed to Gillows and almost certainly supplied to John, 2nd Marquess of Bute (d. 1848) either for Cardiff Castle or Luton Park, was sold by the late 6th Marquess of Bute, Christie's, London, 3 July 1996, lot 43. Another closely related example, also attributed to Gillows, was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 30 November 2002, lot 140 (£91,750). One final example displaying the same reed-moulded lower edge to the frieze as the current lot, stamped T. Willson, 68 Great Queen Street, was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 8 June 1995, lot 44. The firm of Willson are believed to have operated as furniture brokers or dealers in second-hand furniture, rather than actual manufacturers (G. Beard The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, Leeds, 1986, p.985).
Unlike the aforementioned examples of mahogany dining-tables, the current dining-table is unusual for its combination of woods. For instance, the top's brown oak veneer is laid onto mahogany. Brown oak was a popular timber in the Regency period, made fashionable through George Bullock's (d.1818) oak furniture designs. The reason for choosing oak for this table was that it was deemed 'a la mode', and this choice has been emphasized by the veneer being laid, somewhat frivolously, onto mahogany, an expensive imported timber. The padouk legs are again an unusual choice, as these would have been more challenging to turn and carve than mahogany. This dining-table is essentially an extravagant and impressive showpiece, for which no expense was spared in its manufacture
A related example with well-spaced reeded legs and reeded edge to the top, attributed to Gillows and almost certainly supplied to John, 2nd Marquess of Bute (d. 1848) either for Cardiff Castle or Luton Park, was sold by the late 6th Marquess of Bute, Christie's, London, 3 July 1996, lot 43. Another closely related example, also attributed to Gillows, was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 30 November 2002, lot 140 (£91,750). One final example displaying the same reed-moulded lower edge to the frieze as the current lot, stamped T. Willson, 68 Great Queen Street, was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 8 June 1995, lot 44. The firm of Willson are believed to have operated as furniture brokers or dealers in second-hand furniture, rather than actual manufacturers (G. Beard The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, Leeds, 1986, p.985).
Unlike the aforementioned examples of mahogany dining-tables, the current dining-table is unusual for its combination of woods. For instance, the top's brown oak veneer is laid onto mahogany. Brown oak was a popular timber in the Regency period, made fashionable through George Bullock's (d.1818) oak furniture designs. The reason for choosing oak for this table was that it was deemed 'a la mode', and this choice has been emphasized by the veneer being laid, somewhat frivolously, onto mahogany, an expensive imported timber. The padouk legs are again an unusual choice, as these would have been more challenging to turn and carve than mahogany. This dining-table is essentially an extravagant and impressive showpiece, for which no expense was spared in its manufacture