A PAIR OF GEORGE III INLAID MAHOGANY AND SATINWOOD POLYCHROME JAPANNED PIER TABLES circa 1785

One with a fragmented printed label 'DAN & COOK LTD. / NO 63 / NAME / DATE? / WORTHING.'

Sotheby's, London, June 17, 1983, lot 87
Christie's, New York, October 22, 1998, lot 138
Christie's, New York, October 19, 2000, lot 278

The 36^th Winter Antiques Show, New York, January 20-28, 1990, exhibited by Devenish, illustrated in the catalogue p. 48

Restored condition, the tops with some minor patches to cross-bandings and with some minor stress cracks with some old marks, scratches and bruises, the some minor chips and losses to the paint with some areas of inpainting, one with stress crack to frieze flanking front left leg, each formerly fitted with metal L brackets to the back legs and frieze now with infilled screw holes, each with chalked number A9193 to underside.
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 delicate polychrome decorated japanned surface of these tables is a rare survival, particularly when combined with the marquetry tops. The design and execution of these are closely related to, and obviously by the same hand, as a satinwood pembroke table sold at Sotheby's, London, July, 4, 1997, lot 68.  Both of these may be compared to the work of the cabinetmaker, George Simson (1780-1739), of St. Paul's Churchyard, London, a labeled pembroke table similarly inlaid to the present tables being illustrated, C. Gilbert, A Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, 1996, p. 424, figs. 848, 849. Simson is also recorded as supplying japanned furniture (op. cit, p. 424, fig. 847).