A fine pair of Anglo-Chinese mother-of-pearl-inlaid padoukwood concertina-action card-tables mid 18th century

the hinged top opening on a concertina-action frame to a baize-lined playing surface and mother-of-pearl-inlaid candle recesses and counter wells. One with a locking mechanism at the back, the other with a frieze drawer and a locking mechanism at the back; each bearing a printed partial paper label: EDWARDS & ROBERTS / Upholstery Warehouse/ WARDOUR STREET, / LONDON.  Restored, losses to mother-of-pearl inlay.



 

Edwards & Roberts, Wardour Street, London

Sold, Sotheby's, London, November 18, 1983, lot 46

Hyde Park Antiques, New York

Christopher Gilbert & Tessa Murdoch, John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760, New Haven and London, 1993, p. 79; for a related table, see col. pls. X-XIII

R. W. Symonds, Country Life Magazine, January 27, 1950, 'Furniture in the Soane Museum', pp. 220-223, fig. 8.

Very good restored condition, replacements to veneers, especially to tops of concertina-actions, the table with the frieze drawer with a fan-shaped patch to the right side of the top with corresponding loss to counter well inside, frieze above left back leg with 4 inch loss to cockbeading, frieze to right back leg with 1 x 4 inch replacement, also with 12 inch replacement to cockbeading of back right corner, two back feet with patches, unexplained small filled holes to front and back friezes, possibly once fitted with mounts?, frieze drawer bottom replaced, knob to locking mechanism replaced, the other table with replaced frieze above back right leg, three feet pieced but appear to be made of original wood, two hinges appear to have been replaced, some screws to hinges replaced, knob and screws to locking mechanism replaced.
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.

These unusual tables are related in design to a small group of brass-inlaid English furniture which has become linked with the firm of John Channon (b.1711-d.c.1783), 109 St. Martin's Lane, London, and his contemporaries such as Thomas Landall (1724-c.1756) and John Gordon who traded from the sign of the 'Griffin and Chair', Little Argyle Street, London, and Frederick Hintz who worked at 'The Porcupine', Newport Street, near Leicester Fields (1738).  Each richly made of solid padoukwood and padoukwood veneers on an oak carcase, its simple form with its plain cabriole legs and incurved frieze with and central drawer, is adorned with mother-of-pearl.  The interior is baize-lined and has the usual money wells and circular candle stands, though spectacularly inlaid with sprays of leaves and flowers in mother-of-pearl.  The edge of the table is further inlaid with a band of mother-of-pearl.  This appears to be unprecedented in English work, and the method of carving and style of the flowers suggest an oriental hand.  This question is discussed by C. Gilbert and T. Murdoch in John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760, pp. 79 and 82, where an almost identical table with brass inlay, sold in these rooms, October 29, 1983, lot 76, is described as 'a thrilling piece of furniture.'  They speculate that the piece could be of oriental origin, but close examination of the construction reveals that it is undoubtedly of sophisticated English manufacture. It would certainly be unusual to find the moldings on the apron made as cut cross pieces and a rosewood-veneered oak frame as in the present pair of tables, oriental forms would have certainly been made in the solid.  A set of chairs, contemporary with these tables, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is in the collection of the Soane Museum, but their exaggerated form betrays their oriental origin.

Founded in 1845, the firm of Edwards and Roberts was listed in trade directories as 'Edwards and Roberts 2 Wardour Street, Antique and Modern cabinet makers and importers of ancient furniture' by 1854.  The firm not only produced high quality furniture but sold antique furniture as well, which would explain the labels on the present lot.