An Italian mosaic topped carved giltwood console table, in the Antique manner, Roman third quarter 18th century

with a shaped  mosaic inlaid and marble veneered top above a lunette carved frieze centred by a ribboned bow supending floral swags on ram's mask supports terminating in hoof feet joined by scrolled stretcher centered by a fruit-filled vase

Colour overall slightly darker and more attractive than in the catalogue illustration, and the gilding is slightly warmer and less greenish and more attractive. There are some minor losses to the marble border and some very minor chips to the top. The mosaic detail to the top is most attractive. The carving of the table is well-executed, the gilding contains some very minor surface dirt which can easily be cleaned off. There are also some very minor chips to the gilding, but these do not detract from the piece and are not too noticeable and can be touched up. There are some old very minor restorations to the carving, for example, the ribbon at the front of the frieze which appears to have been re-glued, and there appears to be a section of the ribbon missing. The ram's horn, second from the right, is missing but can easily be recarved, and which has revealed the metal support beneath. The vase where it is attached to its socle on the stretcher have been re-glued, and is a bit wobbly and would benefit from some minor attention. The small proportions make it highly desirable, and it is overall good conserved condition and a most attractive model.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
John Wilton Ely, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, The Complete Etchings, Vol. II, plate 829, p. 902.
Alvar González-Palacios, Arredi e Ornamenti alla Corte di Roma, 1560-1795, Milan, 2004, p. 216.

Shaped marble tops including mosaic with large tesserae are exteremely rare although a few are recorded. A very grand pair from Palazzo Borghese was sold by Christie's, London, lot 100, 23rd June 1999 (catalogued by Alvar González-Palacios).

The mosaic tops on these tables reflects the vogue for inserting antique mosaics into marble tops which was revived in the third quarter of the 18th century in Rome by Roman craftsmen. 

The giltwood bases on this pair of console tables are in the manner of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-78), the celebrated designer and architect and engraver of Roman views. His designs for furniture were very influential and he published a folio in 1769, Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifici, which included designs for tables, chairs, vases and chimney-pieces etc. The designs were overtly neo-classical and overloaded with antique motifs such as palmettes, lion monopodia, palmettes and bucrania. The shape of the present tables and the inward curving legs terminating in hoof feet are reminiscent of a table after a Piranesi design, circa 1769, in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Also see Wilton Ely, op. cit., p. 902, fig. 829, for a design by Piranesi, for a table with rams' mask monopodiae, repoduced here in fig.1. Also see a table illustrated by A.G.P., op. cit., p. 216 with ram's mask monopodia of similar inspiration to the present table, reproduced here in fig. 2.

A pair of console tables conceived in a similar vein with mosaic tops, was sold in these Rooms, 4th December 2007, lot 36.