A Regency red papier mâché tôle and japanned centre table circa 1810

the gilt-metal mounted top with a chinoiserie scene with a trellis decorated floral frieze, on a turned support and floral decorated legs with brass paw caps and castors

Overall good restored condition. Minor re-touching to the top. Painted top has craquelure througout and old scratches in various places. Old repairs/lifting throughout top especially centre & front centre. All legs slightly scratched & scuffed consistent with age and use. Decoration refreshed to stem and legs. Old worm to base. All gilt tarnished especially on legs. Overall an attractive and rare table.
"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."

Similarly decorated Japanned tôle goods were produced in the Pontypool factory owned by the Allgood family from the mid-18th century until circa 1820. However examples of furniture incorporating panels of Pontypool tôle are etremely rare, as the factory mainly produced small decorative objects such as urns and trays.

The present table also has affinities with the work of John and Frederick Crace, whose commissions included work for the Prince Regent at Brighton Pavilion between 1800 and 1804, where they designed interiors in the Chinese style. Their accounts for this period show that the from the start the Craces were invlolved in much more than merely the applied decoration at Brighton. Not only did they amuse the Prince with a variety of Chinese curiosities, including costumes, ivory junks, and even `seven pounds' of Chinsese tobacco', but large quantities of furniture were supplied by them too. Most of it seems to have been either Chinese - especially bamboo furniture - or English in the Chinese manner. In 1802 `One very Fine Japan India Cabinet...£14' was invoiced, the following year five more, one costing £15, and in 1804 a charge was made for japanning a stand for a cabinet in black and gilt (see Megan Aldrich (Ed.), The Craces Royal Decorators, 1768-1899, 1989, pp. 21-26.

A pair of closely related Japanned wood and tôle side cabinets sold Sotheby's London, 5 May 1989 and Sotheby's Chester, 8 April 1988, lot 2152.