An Italian carved giltwood console table, Roman, in the manner of Antonio Landucci Transitional, circa 1770

with a rectangular veneered siena marble top above a frieze centred by a beaded medallion enclosing a bull flanked by a foliate and beaded band of guilloche enclosing flowerheads with a lion mask at the angles with a ring in its jaws on acanthus leaf carved cabriole legs terminating in hoof feet joined by an x-form stretcher centred by military trophies   

Colour overall less orange and more golden and attractive than in the catalogue photo. Some very minor chips and areas of infill and replacements to the sine marble veneer, especially to all four corners. The console table is a little dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. The gilding on the stretcher is worn as visible from the catalogue photograph and there are construction cracks where it meets the legs which will need filling. And the rear right section of the stretcher has become detached from the leg which can easily be refixed. There are some chips to the gilding especially to the inside of the legs. The guilloche and beaded motif on the right and left friezes are now missing. There is an ink inscribed inventory label on the right frieze dated 1902 and inscribed with various letters. Once cleaned and having received some cosmetic attention this piece will look even more attractive.
"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:
Alvar Gonzáles-Palacios, Il Patrimonio artistico del Quirinale, I mobile italiani, Milan, 1996, pp. 184-185, no. 59.
Alvar Gonzáles-Palacios, Il Tempio del Gusto, le arti decorative in Italia fra classicismi e barocco Roma e il Regno delle Due Sicilie, Vol. II, Milan, 1984, p. 79, fig. 152.

The combination of neo-classical motifs and the bold cabriole legs terminating in hoof feet are typical of the Roman style of the celebrated architect and designer Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720 - 1778). See A.G.P. op. cit., p.103, fig. 209, for a design by Piranesi for a console table in Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini (Rome 1769), Tavole 63, which must surely have inspired the maker of this piece. The central relief echoes the marble reliefs that he often utilised in the centre of his chimneypieces.

The offered table is related to a pair in the Quirinale in Rome, illustrated by A.G.P. op. cit., pp. 184-185, no. 59, which were executed by Antonio Landucci in 1773 for Prince Don Marcantio Borghese (d. 1800) for the Palazzo Borghese. They have an oval medallion centred in a frieze of scrolling foliage on dragon headed cabriole legs joined by an x-form stretcher centred by a dragon and military trophies.   Furthermore, the offered table also relates to a Roman giltwood table, in the Musei Capitolini in Rome, circa 1765-166, illustrated by A.G.P., op. cit., p. 79, fig. 152.

A table with a similarly carved frieze with guilloche enclosing flowerheads centred by a bacchic mask on similarly scrolled cabriole legs headed by rams' masks and terminating in hoof feet, was sold in the Rooms, lot 227, 1^st June 1993.

Also see a further related pair of Roman giltwood console tables attributed to Antonio Landucci with mosaic tops from Palazzo Borghese, sold from the Bergsten Collection, Christie's, London, 23^rd June 1999, lot 100 which incorporate the similar combination of a neo-classical frieze with a carved stretcher in early 18^th century style.

Another pair of console tables carved in a similar vein, one of which has a frieze centred by an oval medallion with a bull within a guilloche carved with flowerheads, on eagle headed scrolled cabriole legs joined by an x-form stretcher, was sold Christie's , London, 6^th July 2006, lot 30.