A Regency carved giltwood centre table circa 1815, attributed to Gillows

in the manner of William Kent, the associated shaped verde antico marble top within a gilded brass moulded edge, the claw and ball feet with concealed castors

Almost certainly originally commissioned by Catherine Tylney-Long ( d.1825) for Wanstead House, Essex following her marriage in 1812 to The Hon. William Pole Tylney-Long- Wellesley, later 4th Earl of Mornington ( d.1857) and sold by Mr Robins ( of Warwick House, Regent Street) , Wanstead House sale, 10th June 1822 and the following 31days.

 Almost certainly subsequently acquired by Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Earl Grosvenor (1767-1845),  for Eaton Hall, Cheshire.

The present table is apparently shown in a watercolour depicting the Drawing Room of Eaton Hall, Cheshire, by John and J.C. Buckler and published in 1826, illustrated John Martin Robinson, The Regency Country House, London, 2005, p.87, see illus.

 

Generally good and sturdy. The brass edge of the top tarnished. One corner of the top cracked. Gilding tired and dirty and with some chips. Decorative, a real signature piece.
"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."

Wanstead House, Essex was one of the great houses of the 18th century. The estate was already famous in the 17th century because of the alterations and improvements made by the owner Sir Josiah Child, Baronet, who had bought the estate in 1673. His second son and eventual heir Sir Richard Child, Baronet, (1679-1743)  was created Baron Newton and Viscount Castlemaine in 1718 and subsequently Earl Tylney of Castlemaine in 1731. He and his family took the Tylney name as his wife, Dorothy Tylney had inherited the extensive estates of her Tylney relation, Anne, Baroness Craven. Colen Campbell was commissioned by Lord Tylney to build what was to be a monumental Palladian house. It is illustrated in the first edition of Vitruvius Britannicus in 1715. The interiors were designed by William Kent.

He was succeeded by his son John, ( b. 1712) as 2^nd Earl Tylney. He died without issue in 1784 and was in turn succeeded by his nephew Sir James Long, Baronet, of Draycot, Wiltshire, who took the name of Tylney-Long. His only surviving child Catherine became the eventual; heiress in 1805 with the then enormous income of £25,000 per annum and £300,000 in cash. In 1812 she married the nephew of the Duke of Wellington, the Hon. William Wellesley-Pole ( 1788-1857) , who later became 4^th Earl of Morington in 1845.

Following the marriage, the grand mansion, neglected for nearly half a century was refurbished at great expense and large additional sums were spent on furniture and works of art in order that it might reflect the social aspirations of its new owners. Unfortunately  the price of his political ambition and general extravagance led him to squander his wife`s immense fortune and the sale of the house and contents became unavoidable and took place in 1822.

The sale which was to become one of the most famous sales of its type of the 19th century, was conducted by the celebrated auctioneer Mr Robins of Regent Street. The sale commenced on Monday 10^th June and proceeded for 32 days until Tuesday 23^rd July when it finished with the emptying of outbuildings, rick yard and dog kennels.  His sale catalogue which unusually for the time gives remarkably elaborate and full descriptions lists the eleven rooms on the Principal Grand Floor  from the Green Damask Sitting Room and the Red Damask State Bedchamber to the Grand State Apartments of Hall, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Saloon and Ball Room.

From the catalogue we can tell that the interiors were sumptuously furnished with fine French furniture, objects and ceramics together with Kentian furniture and also with contemporary furniture designed in the Kent revival style, designed to harmonise with the original Kent interiors.

Three giltwood card games forming part of the contents sold in 1822. were listed in the catalogue, the first appearing on 13^th June 1822 and which was described: ` Lot 22 A SPLENDID SERPENTINE SHAPE CARD TABLE, TOP LINED WITH COSTLY CRIMSON GENOA VELVET, WITH STAMPED BORDER, AND GILT SCALLOPED SHELL POOL TRAYS, BRASS MOUNTED EDGE, On a superb craved and gilt Raffle-Leaf Scroll Tripod Frame, WITH MASSIVE HEAD ORNAMENTS AT THE FOUR CORNERS, And Solid Grecian Scroll Claws and Ball Feet, on Casters, CRIMSON Chints Case, & c. 3-feet-2 Square. Lots 15 and 16 of either first or fourth day`s sale, 10 or 14 June 1822 were similarly described.

The present table corresponds exactly with this description except that it no longer has a cloth top. However beneath the marble top are screw holes suggesting that the top was originally fixed to the base suggesting that it was fitted originally with a wooden top which would correspond with the Wanstead catalogue description.

Two identical tables to the present lot but with the original tops, with provenance from the Wanstead sale were offered for sale Christie`s London, Two Late Regency Collectors, Philip John Miles and George Byng 1815-45,  9<sup>th</sup> June 2005, lots 22 and 23. They were known to have been purchased at the sale by Philip John Miles for Leigh Court, Bristol and passed by descent  to Sir Henry Miles, sold Christie`s London 27 April 1900, lot 82 or 82A and were bought by Francis 5^th Earl of Strafford and passed thence by descent.    

The Wanstead sale attracted many distinguished and fashionable collectors and society figures including the 6^th Duke of Devonshire who purchased several pieces of furniture, now at Chatsworth, including a magnificent pair of chandeliers carved with mask heads similar to those on the present lot, and a Kentian centre table, both of which are illustrated in The Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth, The House, London, 2002, p.127. The 6^th Duke was a considerable leader of fashion and taste and was to commission other pieces in the `antiquarian' style of William Kent for his various houses. The 2^nd Earl Grosvenor moving in similar circles would no doubt be keen to present himself as a man of fashion and taste reflected in the magnificent house he had created in Eaton Hall and it seems entirely plausible that he was the purchaser of the third giltwood games table and that it is the one illustrated in the watercolour interior view by John and J.C. Buckler.