Beschreibung:

OF GRAND TOUR INTEREST - A Regency or George IV mahogany centre table with an Italian early 19th century specimen marble and hardstone topthe specimen top circa 1815, the table 1820-1825 and almost certainly Scottish or Irish in origin The circular top inset with a central roundel encompassed by six concentric circles incorporating a total of one hundred and forty inlaid radiating segments of assorted marbles, hardstones and minerals, the specimens probably including verde antico, porfido verde antico, val d'aosta, granito verde antico, Spanish brocatello, jaune brocatelle, porphyry, Sicilian jasper, granito rosso antico, cipollino, lumachella nera, alabastro, portasanta, fior di pesco, rouge languedoc, breccia traccagnina, portoro, petit antique, occhio di pavone, lapis lazuli, malachite and agate, on a beaded, acanthus wrapped and lobed column with a lotus-leaf collar and fluted spreading socle, the concave tripartite base with a reeded edge, terminating in scrolled corbel-headed lion paw feet, with recessed brass castors, the table stamped: '9589', the diameter of the top: 96cm; 77cm high.FootnotesProvenance The present table previously formed part of the collection of Sir Edmond Adair Hodson, 5t Bt. (1893-1972), Hollybrook House, County Wicklow, in Ireland. Evidently the table passed by descent through the family down to the current owner and vendor, although it is not known exactly when it was first acquired by the family. The marvellous Italian early 19th century specimen marble and hardstone top surmounting the offered lot is virtually identical (and of the exact same design) to the one forming the top of a rosewood centre table, dated circa 1820 and attributed to Gillows, which sold Christie's, London, 22 January 2009, Lord St. Helens and Sir William Fitzherbert, The Collections of a Diplomat and a Courtier, lot 550. During the early 19th century, a dealer called François de Sanctis, whose operation was based in Rome, was one of a number of retailers who sold colourful specimen tabletops, just like the present model, to his largely 'Grand Tour' clients. One such top was evidently purchased from de Sanctis by R.W. Bland of Belfast. In 1826 this comparable was then exported from Leghorn. However, interestingly the documentation which accompanied this particular tabletop referenced the fact that it had in fact been made in Florence in 1817 and was inscribed: 'Pietre in Tavola Rotunda, Firenze'. It sold Christie's, New York, 29 January 1994, lot 305. Another closely related top is housed within the collection of what was formerly known as the London Geological Museum, but which has since been amalgamated with the Natural History Museum. This is very similar to the offered example with a conforming lapis lazuli central medallion whilst a total of thirty-two of the different marble specimens therein have since been identified, one must assume by the Museum itself. A further Gillows table connected to the aforementioned Christie's models of this type, albeit one possibly commissioned by the Marquess of Zetland for St. Nicholas after he purchased the estate in 1813, sold from the collection of the late Lady Serena James, St. Nicholas, Richmond, Yorkshire, Christie's London, 16 May 2001, lot 260. A further table worthy of note, albeit a comparable with a different type of specimen marble top, is illustrated in S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, Vol. I, 2008, pl. 391, p. 337. This particular rosewood example was made by Gillows in Oxford Street and supplied to Stephen Tempest in 1821. Aside from its top, the present table has a number of elements that are reminiscent of the output of the Scottish cabinet maker, William Trotter who was based in Edinburgh and who flourished during the period 1805-1825. The prominent reeding, or reeded bands, to both column and base along with its distinctive lotus-leaf and acanthus carved collars appear to be recurrent aspects of Trotter's output, especially of those pieces th