A George II mahogany side table in the manner of William Bradshaw circa 1750

Originally with a wood top; marble top later.

Blomvyle Hall, Framlingham, Suffolk

Overall good condition; nicely carved. Marble associated, originally fitted with a wood top, now with rebate holes to the rail to the underside. Marble now with some chips to edges and corners. Underside with later cross braces to help support the marble. Various small, minor restorations and patches to carving. Small restorations to carved brackets. Dents, nicks, and scratches to mahogany.
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 present lot belongs to a small group of similarly conceived tables, each distinguished by the use of exceptionally fine mahogany crisply carved and with fine detail. Each has the distinctive shell carving at the center of the frieze. The most distinguished of this group is a pair formerly at Langley Park, Norfolk, which sold at Christie’s, London, July 6, 1995, lot 100 (£452,500).  The present table is nearly identical to the Langley Park examples except for the carving beneath the shells at the knees.

Langley Park was built by Matthew Brettingham (d. 1769) for George Proctor (d. 1744) after he returned from his time in Venice.  Brettingham had been employed by the Earl of Leicester at Holkham Hall, Norfolk.  The house continued to be furnished by Sir William Beauchamp-Proctor, 1^st Bt. (1722-1773) George Proctor’s nephew.  These tables are illustrated in situ in the dining room on the piers between the windows and beneath large oval mirrors flanked by drapery swags and held by eagles in the Country Life article of 1927.  (See Oliver Bracket, ‘Langley Park’, Country Life,  2 July, 1927, p. 18, fig. 4)

Another very similar table was formerly in the collection of the Earls of Poulett at Hinton House and sold at Sotheby’s, London, November 1, 1968, lot 52. Another pair of tables at Chevening House, Kent (illustrated, Oliver Bracket, `Furniture at Chevening House', Old Furniture, Vol. 7, May-August 1929, p.72, fig.5) which has similar friezes centered by shells and square chamfered legs was possibly supplied to the second Earl of Stanhope in the mid 1730s, by William Bradshaw. (fl.1728-d.1775).

Bradshaw is first recorded at premises in Frith Street, which were formerly occupied by Joshua Morris the tapestry maker, a trade which Bradshaw seems to have continued in partnership with the artist Tobias Stranover. His other clients included Lord Folkestone at Longford Castle and the 1st Earl of Leicester at Holkham Hall. Another unprovenanced table with straight legs was sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, The Collection of Helen Porter Pryibil, November 20 and 21, 1969, lot 1048. Another similar table from the collection of Henry, 7^th Earl of Carnarvon of Highclere Castle, sold at Sotheby’s, London, June 6, 2006, lot 304.