A George III ormolu-mounted scagliola surtout de table circa 1780

The top in three sections and decorated in the late 18th c. Etruscan style with four medallions and with seated maidens emblematic of the four seasons, the central panel with two tablets one depicting Ceres, the other depicting Neptune or a river god, each tablet and medallion with vine-draped Bacchic panther, enclosed by a border of laurel with pearled edge, divided by six tablets depicting vases, with pierced ormolu gallery. The table with a plain frieze and lyre end-supports with panelled plinths joined by a panelled stretcher centered by a painted plaster oval depicting a reclining maiden, on bronzed paw feet with sunk brass casters.

The Grant family, Kilmurry House, Kilworth, Co. Cork until circa 1930.

Overall good restored condition. The top with minor cracks in places with some small areas of in-painting. Some restorations to straight edges to center, appears to retain most of its original decoration. The base in good condition, slightly wopply and would benefit from tightening. Small chips and losses to extremities, and some minor old worm damage.
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 white marble banqueting-table centerpiece is scagliola mosaic in the Etruscan Grecian fashion promoted by the antiquary Baron D'Hancarville's, 'Catalogue of Etruscan, Greek and Roman Antiquities', 1766-7 and by publication of Roman ceiling decoration such as P.S. Bartoli, "Recueil de Peintures Antiques," Paris, 1783. Its ribbon-banded border features poetic laurels and pearl-strings, and tablets of wine-krater vases, which alternate with figurative tablets and medallions supported by festive vine-wreathed bacchic leopards. The latter tablets feature reclining figures of Ceres and Neptune personifying the Elements of Earth and Water and they are accompanied by medallions of figures proffering garlands or making sacrifices at an altar. Such centerpieces would harmonize with the fashion for Etruscan-decorated chimneypieces popularized in Ireland by architects such as James Wyatt (d. 1813) and manufactured by the scagliola-inlayer Domenico Bartoli, who was working for Wyatt in the mid 1790's. (D. Cameron, 'Scagliola inlay work: the problems of attribution', Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, vol VII, 2004, pp. 140-155). The centerpiece has been adapted to form an early 19th century Grecian sofa-table with its 'brass' railed top supported on 'Apollo' lyre pilasters, whose palm-flowered plinths are raised on bronze Bacchic lion-paws.