A George III satinwood, fruitwood, tulipwood and mahogany marquetry writing table in the manner of John Cobb

the brass-mounted tulipwood cross banded serpentine top inlaid at the center with a ribbon tied spray of summer flowers on a satinwood ground with a border of interlaced circles each centering a compass motif or flower-head, all tulipwood and satinwood cross banding within stained lines, the outer panels of trellis-work within satinwood banded borders, the conforming frame with a frieze with a single drawer at one side and inlaid at each side with a central oval panel inlaid with crossed sprays of flowers and plain and trellis-work inlaid shaped panels enclosing flower heads, and continuing to cabriole legs with cross banding and husk inlaid panels on pierced gilt metal foliate sabots.  Alterations, restorations and losses.

Sotheby's, New York, October 24, 1992, lot 111 ($77,000)

Overall in Country House Condition. Marquetry retaining much of its fine line engraving. The top with minor warpage with some lifting to veneers. Some repairs and patches to veneers throughout including losses to the top central panel and trellis panels flanking it, the frieze, the tops of the legs along the lines of construction and to the legs themselves. The top is slightly uneven and is cracked. Both ends have had alterations and have had panels inserted with corresponding alterations to the carcass. The drawers appear to be later.The back right saboe detached but present. The table is sturdy and would benefit from sympathetic restoration.
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.

This finely inlaid table in the French taste is very similar to the work of of John Cobb (c. 1715-78) of 72 St. Martins's Lane, London. Apprenticed in 1736, he is them recorded as entering into a partnership with the Royal Cabinet Maker, William Vile, the successful partnership continuing until 1764, three years before Vile's death. He was also connected to the well known cabinetmaker Giles Grendey, having married, as his first wife, Sukey Grendey in 1755. as Beard and Gilbert note in their Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, pp. 181-184, 'It has been usual to assume that as Cobb trained as an upholsterer he cared for this side of the business, and Vile dealt with the cabinetmaking. This may well be the part of the pattern, but late in life Cobb showed himself to be a very capable cabinetmaker, or more correctly of having the knowledge to oversee cabinet work of very high quality. In later years when he was renowned especially for marquetry furniture,' they record notes by Hester Thrale in her journal, 1789, that when she visited Sceaux in 1775, that the inlaid floors of every chamber were 'finished like the most highly prized Cabinet which Mr. Cobb can produce to captivate the eyes of his customers'.

Although without a provenance, the present table with its superb marquetry inlay and exceptional form, is closely related in the detail of its inlay to documented examples of Cobb's work. A side table with a related oval flower inlaid panel within a conforming band inlaid with conjoined circles enclosing flower heads was sold, Sotheby's, London, June 30, 2004, lot 172. This was possibly the one illustrated by Colin Streeter, Furniture History - The Journal of The Furniture History Society, 1974, vol. X, 'Marquetry Tables from Cobb's Workshop', pp. 52,53. pl. 30B, placing this within a group which he securely attributes to Cobb.

Two other tables of this form are recorded each is slightly smaller, and neither of them is as profusely inlaid as the present example, one example being illustrated by Herbert Ceskinsky, English Furniture from Gothic to Sheraton, London, 1929, p. 370, the other by Messrs Ronald Phillips Ltd, London, in their Catalogue, May 2006, p. 10, item 3.