A German beadwork and carved giltwood table top, by Johann Michael van Selow mid 18th century

of serpentine oval form decorated with a walled gated garden with two arbours, a pergola, fountain, trees and flowerbeds

An Important Private Collection from Hanover, Sotheby's Amsterdam, 27th March 2007, lot 448, sold (with later base).

There is a vertical construction crack as visible from photograph, which has had some attempts at restoration in the past and would benefit from some further attention. There is also another smaller vertical construction crack but this is far less noticeable. There are some minor losses to the beadwork and some minor areas of infill which have been painted. There are some very minor hairline cracks around the giltwood border, the decoration of which has been refreshed. In otherwise good conserved condition.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
A. Kennet, The Palaces of Leningrad, London 1973, p. 244.
H. Kreisel, Die Kunst des Deutschen Möbels. Spätbarock und Rokoko, Munich, Vol.II, 1970, p. 273-274, pl. 881. 
Gloria Ehret, Deutsche Möbel des 18.Jahrhunderts, München 1986, p.79.
A. Flöck, A. Rauch, Manufaktur von Selow aus Braunschweig – Glasperlenmosaike des Rokoko, Braunschweig 2005, p.44-49.

One of the rarest and greatest technical achievements of the eighteenth century was German glass beadwork from Braunschweig and Johann Michael van Selow was considered to be its finest exponent. Originally from the Netherlands, van Selow worked under the Royal patronage of Duke Carl I of Braunschweig. His glass beadwork table tops depict still lifes or landscapes and he often combined them with English bases. Although he was even granted a ducal privilege for the production of his tables, the factory was in existence less than twenty years (1755-1772) and few examples of this colourful beadwork exist. Examples of van Selow's work can be seen in the collection of the Städtisches Museum in Braunschweig and in the collection of the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle in Yorkshire.

Perhaps the grandest example of this beadwork technique exists in a salon of the Chinese Palace at the Oranienbaum complex of palaces near St. Petersburg. Built in the 1760's by Antonio Rinaldi for Catherine the Great, the room contains panels depicting fantastic rococo chinoiserie scenes of embroidered and painted silk, perhaps after the designs of Jean Pillement, which are surrounded by large panels woven of blue, mauve and pink glass beads.

A beadwork table from the Van Selow workshop was sold from the Collection of Arne Schlesch, Sotheby's, New York, 5th April 2000, lot 336; while another closely related table attributed to Van Selow was sold from the Royal House of Hanover, Sotheby's House Sale, Schloss Marienburg, 8th October 2005, lot 1465.