A William IV part-ebonized and parcel-gilt burr walnut specimen marble and micromosaic top center table, Taprell, Holland & Sons London, circa 1835

Stamped FROM / TAPRELL, HOLLAND & SON, / No 19, Marylebone Street / ST. JAMES'S, LONDON

by repute, the Collection of Digby Morton, London
acquired privately circa 1953 by the present owner's father

Marble top in very good condition; some very minor old chips to the edge; the surface with a nice patina; marbles seem stable with soem minor scratches and wear to surface consistent with age and use; the table base with chips and losses to ebonized and gilt decoration to edge of top; one stylized shell carving to the frieze lacking; the legs with chips and losses to gilding nad gesso mainly to extremities; one leg with loss to tip of acanthus leaf above the foot; another foot with losses to the scroll carving on either side; the stem with small cracks over lines of construction to the veneers; overal with scratches nicks and wear consistent with use; table base is sturdy
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.

The firm of Holland & Sons first appeared in 1803 as Taprell, Stephen and Holland. The partnership then became Taprell, Holland and Son between 1835 and 1843 when it finally became Holland & Sons. William Holland, who took over as senior partner in 1843 was almost certainly related to the architect Henry Holland. The relationship between builder and cabinet maker is paralleled by another leading Victorian firm, Trollope and Sons. Their earliest known commission was to furnish the Athenaeum, 1824- 1838. They also worked alongside the firm of Thomas Dowbiggin at Osborne House and eventually took over their premises and business at 23 Mount Street in 1851 and 1853 respectively. The present table appears to be from the early work of the firm, being executed in a combination of ‘Louis’ styles which were popular in the 1830s as used by designers like Robert Hume in re-designing the interiors of Hamilton Palace for the 10^th Duke of Hamilton in 1831.

The magnificent inlaid specimen marble top is most likely of Roman origin and incorporates a magnificently inlaid micromosaic plaque to the center typical of those made in Rome from the 1820s through the middle of the century.  The source of the subject matter probably comes from an ancient floor mosaic depicting a basket of flowers in the Pio Clementine Museum in the Vatican.  The doves recall the ancient floor mosaic of the Doves of Pliny at the Capitoline Museum, Rome.  A similar plaque with two doves with a basket of flowers is in the Gilbert Collection (illustrated, Jeanette Hanisee Gabriel, The Gilbert Collection Mircomosaics, London, 2000, p. 133, no. 71).  Another plaque, circa 1830 in the Gilbert Collection depicts a very similar basket of flowers (illustrated, op. cit., p. 226, no. 157).