A PAIR OF GEORGE III PARCEL-GILT ROSEWOOD AND ROSEWOOD-GRAINED PIER TABLES WITH FAUX PAINTED SPECIMEN MARBLE TOPS IN THE MANNER OF HENRY HOLLAND, POSSIBLY BY MARSH AND TATHAM Circa 1795

of rectangular form with break-bow front, the later painted faux-specimen marble top above a plain apron with gilt cockbead molding on inverted baluster fluted cylindrical legs joined by a pierced concave-sided stretcher, on tapering cylindrical feet.

Very good quality; overall very good restored condition; painted decoration and gilding refreshed; rubbing to gilding of edges of tops; stretchers rosewood grained on mahogany and with metal braces to undersides at corners; rubbing to gilding throughout; tops appear to be solid mahogany. I - small outset corner molding lacking to edge of left side; back left leg with crack running top of leg to upper section of leg, lacking back left gilt molding; II – small outset corner molding lacking to edge of right side; age cracks to top of back right leg and back of front right leg at juncture with stretcher and below; minor infilled fissure to top of front left leg.
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 present pair of tables is characteristic of the work of Henry Holland, architect to the Prince of Wales, later George IV, having particularly marked affinities with a pair of chiffoniers in the Whitbread collection at Southill Park, Bedfordshire, originally supplied under Holland's direction to the great 18th century brewer Samuel Whitbread circa 1796-1800, illustrated in Margaret Jourdain and Ralph Edwards, Regency Furniture 1795-1830, rev. ed., 1965, p.17, fig.5, and Francis Watson, Southill: A Regency House, 1951, fig.36.

The Whitbread chiffoniers have been attributed to Marsh & Tatham, leading London cabinet-makers who worked under Holland's direction for the Prince of Wales at Carlton House and who were also credited with a pair of cabinets similar to the present examples recorded with Blairman & Sons, London (cf. Blairman & Sons catalogue, 1994).  A very similar pair of pier tables with identical legs and stretchers to the present pair sold at Sotheby's London, November 20 and 27, 1992, lot 135.