A Pair of fine George III Cream-Painted and Parcel-Gilt Marble Top Pier Tables circa 1775

each D-shaped marble top above a conforming frieze carved with drapery swags within beaded borders raised on S-scrolled square tapering legs carved with acanthus leaves ending in pendant husks and joined by concave beaded stretchers and ending in stiff leaf carved scrolled feet.

The Collection of the late Dr. and Mrs. Jules C. Stein
Sold, Christie's, New York, April 19, 1986, lot 140

Overall good restored condition; the first top possibly with old repaired breaks and with a reddish paint to the underside covering up the surface; the other top with an old repaired break to the back right corner; tops with some minor chips and wear to edges and with some areas of infilling; the decoration appears to have been refreshed in places mainly to the feet and to the sides of the legs; some minor chips and losses to decoration; the gilding with some minew rubbing and wear. Four small beads lacking to front apron of one table.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present pier tables with their elongated S-curved supports and drapery swag friezes are very similar to a suite of furniture ordered by James Beal Bonnell circa 1775 for  Upton House, Essex, which he inherited from his father in 1774 as well as a number of other properties.  Bonnell stayed at Upton until 1788, moving the family to Pelling Place, Old Windsor, Berkshire.  It is likely that Bonnell ordered the suite upon gaining his inheritance probably to redecorate some of some of the rooms at Upton.  The painted and parcel-gilt suite also incorporates painted figural panels to the backs of the seat furniture after works by Angelica Kauffman, engraved by Barolozzi.

The present tables also relate to a work table in Mrs. Child's dressing room at Osterley Park, having the same frieze and identical legs.  A number of firms are recorded as working at Osterley including the Linnells, Georg Haupt as well as the firm of Ravald & Morland.

See:

Ralph Edwards and Percy Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev. ed., vol. III, Woodbridge, 1983, p. 322, fig. 4
E. T. Joy, 'The Upton House Suite of Adam Period Furniture', The Connoisseur, June 1960, pp. 28-31
Clifford Musgrave, Adam and Hepplewhite and other Neo-Classical Furniture, London, 1966, no. 88, p. 198, fig. 88
Maurice Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1972, p. 165, no. T/9