A TABLE VICTORIAN, POSSIBLY BY BLAKE

The Blake name first appears in the Post Office inventories in 1820, at 8 Stephen Street, Tottenham Court Road, London, and although little is known about the work of the family, the business continued at these premises until 1881. Robert Blake, who is described between 1826 and 1839 as a ‘cabinet inlayer and buhl manufacturer’ was one of a small group of London cabinet makers in the first half of the 19th century that specialised in Boulle work and marquetry, exploiting the prevailing tastes for French furniture at the time.

Attributing marquetry furniture to Blake is largely based on a few known signed works. These include a magnificent piano in the Metropolitan Museum, New York by G.H. Blake, a circular table at Alnwick Castle, and a tray in harewood bearing a hand written label, see Christopher Gilbert Pictorial Dictionary of marked London Furniture 1700–1840, p.112, fig.131. A small writing table attributed to Blake was offered at Sotheby’s, 8th November 1991, lot 17. The marquetry on the present table shares similar characteristics with the above cited examples. The use of floral sprigs and birds on a dark ground appear on the previous 1991 example, and the inclusion of ivory in the detail of the figures can also be seen on the aforementioned piano.