Description & Technical information

A highly important pair of late 18th century Adam period ormolu mounted satinwood marquetry and giltwood side tables attributed to Mayhew and Ince, possibly to a design by James Wyatt , having serpentine shaped tops with finely chased gadrooned ormolu edge attributed to Diedrich Anderson, accentuated by  kingwood crossbanding and having classical marquetry inlay on a satinwood background consisting of a pendant urn with birds each side within a ribbon tied oval husk wreath with draped husk pendants, typical for Mayhew and Ince, flanked by fine floral sprays to each side. The conforming giltwood bases having a stiff leaf carved moulding with pearled edge above frieze applied with guilloche ribbon and staff decoration above a ribbon tied moulded edge; on four square channelled legs with husk decorated fluting and husk corner swags terminating in flowerhead carved blocks with tapering fluted toes.
Note: The tops pre-date the bases by some twenty years, but have been used for the first time. The bases have been re-gilt. Mayhew and Ince sometimes incorporated older parts in their commissions, such as the well documented commodes at Burghley, in which older marquetry panels were also used.

Date:  circa 1795
Period:  18th century
Origin:  English
Medium: The giltwood bases
Dimensions: 86.5 x 138 x 61 cm (34 x 54³/₈ x 24 inches)
Provenance: Crichel, Dorset.
Mallett, London.
Private collection, England.
Literature: Geoffrey Beard & Christopher Gilbert, ‘The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660 1840’, London 1986, p. 594.
‘Furniture History Journal 1990’, Charles Cator,The Earl of Kerry and Mayhew and Ince, pp. 27-33.
‘Furniture History Journal 1994’, Hugh Roberts, Nicely Fitted Up, Furniture for the 4th Duke of Marlborough, pp.117-149.
Ronald Phillips Ltd, 2006 catalogue, pp. 56/7.
Illustrated:
H. Avray Tipping, ‘English Homes’, Period VI, vol. I, London 1921, p. 54, fig.83, in situ at Crichel.
Country Life, 16 May 1925, H. Avray Tipping, ‘Crichel Dorset’, p. 773, fig. 15.
Categories: Furniture