A FINE PAIR OF GEORGE III MARQUETRY INLAID HAREWOOD AND CARVED GILT WOOD PIER TABLES IN THE MANNER OF MAYHEW AND INCE circa 1775

each demilune top inlaid with a fan issuing from a flower head and with rayed husks, and with ribbon hung swags of summer flowers and leaves, the cross banded and line inlaid edge with a band of satinwood inlaid with a ribbon entwining oak leaves and acorns, the conforming giltwood base with a burnished frieze ornamented with flower heads enclosed by bead moldings and with later swags of husks and berries, the turned incurved legs headed by square blocks with applied patera joined by curved paneled stretchers, the toes with stiff leaves above turnings.  Re-gilt.

With Arthur S. Vernay Inc., New York City, October 1930, illustrated in his catalogue, p. 41

Sotheby's, New York, October 11, 1999, Property from a Private Collection, Beverly Hills, California

Restored condition, re-gilt, garlands later, the first with little warpage to top with small areas of inpainting and minor age cracks, the second with minor warpage to top and with some minor patches to veneer with minor areas of inpainting, each with minor chips to gilding, 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 tables may be firmly attributed to the partnership of John Mayhew (1736-d.1811) and William Ince (d. 1804), whose partnership was one of the most significant, probably the longest lived, but as far as identified furniture is concerned, the least well documented of any of the major cabinetmakers of the 18^th century'. (See: Beard and Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, p.p. 589-598). Although they have been regilded, the marquetry inlaid harewood tops are in a superb untouched state, the garlands of flowers in particular retaining most of their red and green engraved decoration. These are closely related both in design and execution to those found on a pair of marquetry and satinwood pier tables with gilt wood bases, supplied by them to Richard Myddleton of Chirk Castle, Denbighshire, c. 1782 (See: Lucy Woods, Catalogue of Commodes, The Lady Lever Art Gallery, 1994, p. 221, figs. 212-213). Similar marquetry inlaid tops are also found on a pair of console tables believed to have been supplied by the partnership to Frederick Sackville, c. 1777, sold from the collection of the late Sir Michel Sobell, Christie's, London June 23, 1994, lot 148, and another pair sold Sotheby's, London, November 7, 1997, lot 59, both pairs having similar in-curved supports to those on the present lot. Garlands of this form are also found on pieces of case furniture attributed to the partnership, including a secretaire cabinet in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (See: M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, The Victoria and Albert Museum, p. 185, fig. U/13, and a commode in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, L. Woods, Ibid, p. 222, figs. i, ii).