A George IV Mahogany tea poy reading table by John Johnstone circa 1820

the double-hinged top on a ratchet support opening to a bookstand and a hinged pair of tea caddies and other compartments above a dummy frieze and short drawer and one short drawer, the reverse with a dummy frieze drawer over two dummy short drawers; the leaf-carved circular tapered stem on a concave rectangular plinth raised on reeded downswept legs.  Stamped JOHNSTONE NEW BOND S^{T / LONDON}, the caps of the caster casters stamped BS & P / PATENT beneath a crown.

Overall good restored condition; nice color and figure to the timbers; the top with some areas of inpainting and restorations to the stringing and with some age cracks over lines of construction; the ratchet support notches with two later notches; the interior lacking two cylindrical caddies; the short drawer to the front is locked; the base of the stem with a small chip to the molded edge and with a small age crack; the rectangular plinth with age cracks and with subsequent minor tears to the veneers; overall with some old marks and scratches.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present lot was made by the cabinet maker John Johnstone, of New Bond Street, who went into partnership with Robert Jupe between 1835 and 1840 forming the firm Johnstone, Jupe & Co.  Johnstone then went into partnership with Charles Jeanes in 1842, forming the firm Johnstone & Jeans, and continued to make furniture throughout the Victorian period.  See: C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 35-36, 282-286.