Lot 89
  • 89

An English Octagonal tulipwood, kingwood, ivory and pearl shell marquetry library centre table circa 1840, attributed to Edward H. Baldock

Estimate
18,000 - 25,000 GBP
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Description

  • 79cm. high, 142cm. wide, 2ft. 7 ¼in., 4ft. 8in.
the top with a tooled leather inset within a series of cartouches depicting ... each divided by a spray of flowers, the shaped frieze containing an arrangement of four drawers with conforming floral inlay, the concave-sided pedestal support further inlaid with similar trailing flowers and foliage punctuated by bouquet filled cartouches, on inward scrolling feet concealing brass castors, inlaid throughout with marquetry incorporating brass, copper, brass, pewter, ivory and pearl shell on an ebony ground within crossbanded and strung borders, stamped `EDWARDS & ROBERTS, WARDOUR ST, LONDON'

Provenance

Most probably acquired by Miles Thomas Stapleton, 8th Lord Beaumont (1805-1854) from Edwards and Roberts and thence by descent.

Literature

J. M. Robinson, 'Carlton and the Stapletons: The History of a Recusant Family', The Connoisseur, Vol. 202, September 1979, p.21

Catalogue Note

The present table is very similar to an example supplied in 1841 to the Duke of Buccleuch for Dalkeith Palace, Scotland, now in the furniture collection at Temple Newsam House, Leeds, (see Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, 1978, 3 vols., vol. II, pp. 318-320, no. 395). A group of closely related tables almost certainly by the same maker include an example also with provenance from the Buccleuch collection, sold Christie's London, 1 April 1971, lot 33; and further specimens recorded at Charlecote Park, Penrhyn Castle, Wales and the Victoria and Museum.

Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845) is first recorded in 1805 at 7 Hannway Street, London as a "...dealer in china and glass" and later in 1821 as "...an antique and Ornamental furniture dealer". By 1826 he had expanded his services to encompass "...buying, selling, exchanging and valuing china cabinets, screens, bronzes etc." From 1832 until his death, he secured the royal patronage, firstly of William IV and then Queen Victoria to whom he was variously a purveyor of earthenware, glass and china. Furniture supplied by Baldock was often branded with the initials `EHB'. However it is not known whether such pieces were manufactured at Hanway Street or whether this was simply a retail outlet for goods designed by him and produced elsewhere. Much of Baldock's furniture was 18th century with 19th century adaptations. Typically these took the form of fashionable porcelain embelishments, a vogue he was ideally placed to exploit. Hence Baldock can be regarded as acting in the tradition of the eminent marchands-merciers such as Daguerre and Poirier rather than a manufacturer. In this capacity, Baldock played a significant rôle forming the leading collections of French furniture during the early 19th century, including those of George IV, William Beckford, George Byng M.P. and the Duke of Buccleuch.