A George III suite of a painted satinwood Pembroke table and a pair of card tables, circa 1790, attributed to Seddon Son & Shackleton

each piece painted with a border of peacock`s feathers interspersed with roses and crossbanded in tulipwood, the Pembroke table with a drawer and dummy,  with a manuscript inventory number in the drawer 9281, the card tables with demi-lune tops, all with flower painted friezes, on square tapering legs, with a label for Lawrence & Hughes/ Depository Harrogate

These are all in good condition. The Pembroke table has a slightly uneven top. There have been some minor repairs to the tulipwood crossbanding and touching up of the painted decoration. There are some minor age cracks, old marks and scratches throughout consistent with age and use. The card tables have a rather unusual laminated form of construction which appears perfectly original. Both have minor characteristic warping to the tops and both have age cracks which have been filled with some consequent re-touching of the painted borders and repairs to the crossbanding. One table has a large stain to the top consistent with a wet vase being placed on it or similar which has now been restored but which is still visible. There is some minor warping to the gateleg action on both with the consequence that the back legs are slightly out of alignment.
"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."

The present suite of painted satinwood furniture can be attributed to the celebrated firm of cabinet makers of Seddon, Sons and Shackleton on the stylistic basis of the painted decoration. The firm specialised in painted furniture of this type. The distinctive painted borders of roses and peacock`s feathers relates very closely to a documented suite of furniture supplied by the firm to D. Tupper of Hauteville House, St. Peter Port, Guernsey who in 1790 was invoiced for furnishings to the value of £414 11s. 4d. ( C. Gilbert `Seddon, Sons & Shackleton', Furniture History, vol. XXXIII, 1991, P.2) .

The suite included a card table and fifteen armchairs. A pair of the armchairs from this suite was sold Sotheby`s London, Fine English and Continental Furniture, 20th November 1970, lot 191. Another chair from this suite is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and is illustrated in Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, 3 Vols., Vol. I, p.301, fig. 241.  The chairs are painted with the same distinctive peacock feather motif on a cream ground that can be seen on the present lot.

 

For a further comparison, see a pair of painted satinwood card tables and a Pembroke table ensuite, by Seddon Sons and Shackleton, and supplied by the firm to Richard Hall Clarke of Bridwell House, Devon on 30th March 1793, sold Sotheby`s London, 9th July 1993, lot 172-3.