A Regency rosewood parcel-gilt and ebonised library centre table circa 1820, attributed to Gillows

in the style of George Smith, with gilt-metal mounts, the top with replaced inset tooled leather above three drawers to each side, on carved ebonised monopodiae supports

Comparative Literature: Margaret Jourdain, Regency Furniture, 1965, pl.181, p.78.

Susan Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, 1730-1840, 2008, 2 vols., vol. I, p. 212, pl.188 and vol. II, p. 96, pl. 643.

This table is overall in very good condition. The leather skiver has been replaced and has attractive and appropriate tooling. The handles have been replaced. Some of the mounts have also been replaced but very sympathetically. The legs have been re-gilded and re-ebonised. There are minor chips. The crossbanding to the top has age cracks which do not detract. Overall a very fine quality 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."

The present library table with its leopard monopodiae supports relates to library table patterns published by George Smith in his Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808, pls. 83 and 87.  Smith interpreted Thomas Hope`s Egyptian and Grecian designs with a greater regard for comfort and utility than for archaeological accuracy; he had a particular weakness for monopodiae, claw feet, sabre legs and antefixae.

A pair of day beds supported by similar monopodiae was supplied by Gillows of Oxford Street, London to Colonel Hughes of Kinmel Park, Denbighshire in 1805, one of which is now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated in Margaret Jourdain, op. cit., p.58, pl.108. The other was sold Christie`s Sheringham Hall, 22nd- 23rd October 1986, lot 151. Kinmel Park was re-modelled and improved by Samuel Wyatt at the time of Gillow`s commission and it is possible that Wyatt was also responsible for the design of the furniture.

A similar library table can be seen in the collection of the Earl of Harrowby at Sandon Hall, Staffordshire, illustrated in Country Life, June 13, 1991, pl.6. p.177. This table may have been supplied as part of the furnishings supplied by Gillows of London and Lancaster to Nathaniel Ryder, 1st Baron Harrowby ( d. 1803) for Sandon Park. Another similar table to the present lot can be seen illustrated in Margaret Jourdain, op. cit, pl. 181, p.78 and also illustrated in R. Edwards, The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1964, p.566, pl.37 and subsequently sold, Bonhams London, Fine English Furniture, 7th March 2012, lot 225, £97250, incl. premium. Another  example, without a plinth like the present example, was sold Sotheby`s London, 26th May 1967, lot 104.  Further comparisons can be made with a side table attributed to Gillows sold Christie`s London, Important English Furniture, 13th November 1997, lot 25 and illustrated in Susan Stuart, op. cit, vol. II, pl.643.