A fine pair of George III inlaid satinwood games tables in the manner of Mayhew and Ince Circa 1780

each hinged top opening to a baize lined surface.

Overall fair restored condition; the first with long age cracks to top; slight rippling and warpage to top; losses and lifting to the stringing; small losses to bended veneers of edge; slight separation at lines of construction of the thumb holding; the frieze with some lifting and small losses to the veneers with some patches with inpainting to the lower streaming; old worm to gate-leg supports. The other with age cracks to top, and with slight rippling and warpage to top loss to one piece of inlaid veneer and infilled loss to another piece of veneer; lifting to small section of stringing; the bandings with lifting shrinkage and some patches; small losses to lower bending; the thumb molding with slight separation at lines of constructions and with inpainting; bandings of frieze with shrinkage and slight lifting and in places; the central panel of the frieze with lifting to the right side of the veneers and with a loss to one inlaid husk; front left leg with old repaired break; gate-leg supports with old worm; 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 attribution to Mayhew and Ince is based on the firm's documented and attributed use of motifs related to the present tables such as the crossed palm fronds, oval paterae, draped husks suspended from ribbons and berried laurel leaves. A commode in the collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, the top with similar crossed palm fronds tied with a ribbon, attributed to Mayhew and Ince, is illustrated, L. Wood, Catalogue of Commodes, 1994, p. 195, fig. i-ii; see also, Christie's, London, a table top with crossed palm fronds, sold, November 21, 1974, and a bonheur-du-jour, the side drawers inlaid with ribbon-tied crossed palm fronds, Christie's, London, November 19, 1992, lot 89.  Additionally, the thumb-molded underside of the front edge appears to have been once ebonized; see G. Beard and C. Gilbert, the Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, pp. 589-598: 'Moulded borders of commodes, tables and chests, especially when free of ormolu mounts, were often strengthened by ebonizing, a highly unusual device perhaps unique to the firm'.  A pembroke table with similar husks swags to the frieze drawer was sold in these rooms, The Collection of Tom Devenish, April 24, 2008, lot 135; another pembroke table was formerly in the North Drawing room at Ham House, Middlesex, first illustrated by Mrs. Charles Roundell, Ham House, Its History and Art Treasures, London, 1904, vol. I, and subsequently sold by the Countess of Dysart, Sotheby's, London, April 10, 1972, lot 64, this table probably being one of the pair exhibited by Norman Adams at The Grosvenor House Antiques Fair, London, June 14-24, 1972, p. 19.