A pair of William IV giltwood and marble console tables, circa 1835, attributed to the workshop of William Cribb

the reverse of each with a paper label The Property of F. C. Bentinck / 16 Mansfield Street

Formerly in the collection of William George Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck (d. 1948) at 16 Mansfield Street;
by decent to his son Ferdinand Cavendish-Bentinck, 8th Duke of Portland (1889-1980);
by descent to his brother Victor Cavendish-Bentinck, 9th Duke of Portland (1897-1990);
Thence by descent

These have been re-gilt and the surface with some residual dirt which would clean up nicely. Exposed gesso and timber and there are losses to the carving which is of some quality. The attractive marble tops, probably later, have minor rim chips and both are applied with slate blocks to the underside to re-enforce repaired breaks and the tables have been adapted to make them shallower in depth. Whilst in distressed country house condition, they will be superb when restored.
"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."

Boldly carved in the George II style, these tables have all the hallmarks of a growing body of early Georgian revival furniture by or attributed to William Cribb. More commonly known as a framer and gilder, one of Cribb's notable commissions was the work he undertook for William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1719-1858) at Chatsworth. The present tables share constructional similarities to a labelled console table by Cribb sold Sotheby's London, Mark Birley: The Private Collection, 21 March 2013, lot 164, which employed a similarly course grain pine for the legs, that were in themselves of comparable form.

Interestingly, the paper label to the reverse of these tables places them in the collection of Mr Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck of 16 Mansfield Street. A famous Adam project built under the aegis of his great-grandfather, William Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, Mansfield Street was built after their financially disastrous Adelphi enterprise. In 1773, the names of Lord Hinchingbrooke (No. 18), Lord Scarsdale (No. 5), the Earl of Sussex (No. 9) and the Countess of Powis (No. 11) all appear on the title deeds of adjacent properties. No. 16 was not let until 1775, when it subsequently became the town house of the Marquess of Sligo. Mr Frederick Cavendish-Bentinck (d. 1948) was one of several inhabitants who sympathetically restored the Adam interiors to their former glory in the early 20th century, taking occupancy of the house in 1892. His wife, Ruth Mary, was renowned for her support of the Suffragette movement. Their youngest son, Victor Frederick William (‘Bill Bentinck’), a diplomat and later 9th and last Duke of Portland (d. 1990), was born at 16 Mansfield Street in June 1897.