A George II mahogany serving table

The present lot belongs to a small group of similarly conceived tables, each distinguished by the use of exceptionally fine mahogany crisply carved and with fine detail. Each has the distinctive shell carving at the centre of the frieze. The most distinguished of this group is a pair formerly at Langley Park, Norfolk. Another was formerly in the collection of the Earls of Poulett at Hinton House. These tables and the Langley Park tables both however have cabriole legs.Although neither of these is documented a pair at Chevening House, Kent (Old Furniture, op. cit)  which has similar friezes centered by shells and square chamfered legs was possibly supplied to the second Earl of Stanhope in the mid 1730s, by William Bradshaw. (fl.1728-d.1775). Bradshaw is first recorded at premises in Frith Street, which were formerly occupied by Joshua Morris the tapestry maker, a trade which Bradshaw seems to have continued in partnership with the artist Tobias Stranover. His other clients included Lord Folkestone at Longford Castle and the 1st Earl of Leicester at Holkham Hall. Another unprovenanced table with straight legs was sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, The Collection of Helen Porter Pryibil, November 20 and 21, 1969, lot 1048.

See:

Country Life , October 15, 1927, Oliver Bracket, `Furniture at Langley Park', fig.2.

Old Furniture, Vol. 7, May-August 1929, `Furniture at Chevening House', Oliver Bracket, p.72, fig.5 The Hinton House Table: Sotheby`s sale, November 1, 1968, lot 52.