A George II carved mahogany side table circa 1750

the later Spanish Brocatelle marble top above four carved cabriole legs

Good overall condition. Good colour. Minor chips to corners of marble. One corner with an old repair. Lovely patina. Very good quality of carving. 79.5cm. high, 118cm. wide, 66.5cm. deep; 2ft. 7 ¼in., 3ft.10in., 2ft. 2 ¼in.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The legs on the present side table relate to those on a suite of seat furniture with similar shell carving to the knees, supplied by William Hallet (d.1781) of Long Acre in 1735 for Arthur Ingram, 6^th Viscount Irwin (d.1736) and subsequently removed to Temple Newsam House, Yorkshire (see C. Gilbert, `Newly Discovered Furniture by William Hallett', The Connoisseur, December 1964, pp. 224-225). A further suite employing a corresponding shell motif to the legs was supplied by Thomas Welsh to the Marquess of Linlithgow for the Red Drawing Room at Hopetoun House, Scotland in 1767-8 (see Francis Bamford, The Dictionary of Edinburgh Furniture Makers, 1983, pls. 32-33).

A pair of library armchairs with very similar shell and acanthus leaf carving to the knees of the legs with claw and ball feet, sold Christie's, London 3 July 1997, lot 31 and a further two pairs, sold Sotheby's, Easton Neston, Northamptonshire, 17-19 May 2005, lots 10-11.

This table epitomises the brief transitional phase between the end of the age of walnut and the beginnings of the rococo era in 18th century English furniture design. The fashion for collecting robustly carved furniture of this type was established in the early years of the 20th century by connoisseurs such as Percy Macquoid and followed in the late 1920s by R.W. Symonds. The latter's publication of the celebrated Percival D. Griffiths Collection, in English Furniture from Charles II to George II, (1929), cemented this taste amongst the principle collectors of English furniture such as Frederick Poke who purchased much of The Griffiths Collection when it was sold by Christie's between the 10th and 12th May 1939. A settee with closely related carving, formerly the property of Lord Plender  (see R.W. Symonds 'Furniture & The Collection of Lord Plender', Apollo November 1931) was sold Christie's London,  25 November 2004, lot 190.  In addition Christie's London sold a George II table with similar shell carving and ball and claw feet, also formerly in the collection of Lord Plender, 10 July 2003, lot 12 (£54,000 hammer).