An Early Victorian cream-painted and parcel-gilt Italian pietre dure marble top center table circa 1840, the top attributed to J. Darmanin & Sons of Malta

the stretchers each with pencilled inscription Royal Pavilion, Brighton, 1952.

Possibly acquired at the Brighton Pavilion's annual Regency Exhibition in 1952
Mark Gilby, Esq.
Thence by descent

Top with some light scratches; small chips to edges, not extensive; some minor very small losses to inlay specifically to ends of coral sprays; very good condition. Cream paint refreshed; gilding possibly original and now with some rubbing, losses, and small chips to gesso. Some restored breaks to carved decoration.
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 base of this table was likely produced by  the firm of George Morant & Son, London,decorators and cabinet-makers. Founded in 1790, theirlarge and fashionable clientele included members of the Royal Family, the Marquess of Londonderry and the 2nd Duke and Duchess of Sutherland.  The firm's display at the Great Exhibition of 1851 included tables of this type with designs combining both neoclassical and the naturalism of the rococo revival style. See the table in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum attributed to Morant with a nearly identical frieze. Another table with a similar frieze by Morant with Carlton Hobbs, NY, 2010.

The wonderful central medallion is inspired by the Capitoline Museum's famous Hadrianic marble mosaic discovered in 1737, the work of Sosus, which was documented and described by the Roman author Pliny The Elder. This pattern is popularly known as 'Pliny's Doves'.  The Victoria and Albert Museum has a table with a nearly identical pietre dure top with Pliny's Doves surrounded by a band of naturalistic shells and corals. (illustrated, Kate Hay, 'Mosaic Marble Tables by J. Darmanin & Sons of Malta', Furniture History, 2010, vol. XLVI, p. 158, figs. 1, 2) That top was made by the best-known marble-working firm in 19th century Malta (under British rule from 1800), J. Darmanin and Sons, who traded from about 1800 into the 1880's and also exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.

The firm of J. Darmanin & Sons was the most prominent marble working firm in Malta in the 19th century, had a prolific trade in 'Monumental and Mosaic Slabs and other Ornamental Work' including mosaic table tops chiefly for export, and to British tourists who stopped at Valletta while on the Levantine Grand Tour such as Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore; the latter recording her visit to the marble works in her journal, published 1885.  A number of Darmanin's ambitious marble mosaic tables were shown at internatinal exhibitons in London and Paris between 1851 and 1886, including in 1851, a table in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace, which was awarded a prize medal (RCIN 2631).  For a full discussion on the firm, see Kate Hay, 'Mosaic Marble Tables by J. Darmanin & Sons of Malta', Furniture History, 2010, vol. XLVI.