An Italian walnut, ebony and fruitwood parquetry games table, probably Sicilian late 18th century

the top with the coat of arms of Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc, Grand Master of Order of St. John, inscribed E. de Rohan 1775, opening to reveal a baize lined surface with a stylised Greek key banding and four medallions with classical profiles

Probably commissioned by Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc (1725-1797), Grand Master of the Order of St. John, after 1775.

This rare card table is in reasonable original condition, displaying a shrinking crack to the right hand side of the top, and slight movement to the left side. The back has suffered from sun exposure, having its colours faded. There are minor repairs and losses to veneer. The green felt surface is worn and is torn on the fold. An attractive and unusual 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."

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Enrico Colle, Il mobile neoclassico in Italia, Milan, 2005, pp. 50-53.

John Manduca, ed., Antique Furniture in Malta, Valletta, 2002, p. 212.

This singular games table, displaying the coat of arms of Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc, 60^th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of St. John, combines an essentially English outline with marquetry that is typical of Southern Italian Neoclassicism.

The table might well have been commissioned to celebrate the election of de Rohan as Grand Master in 1775, although it was in all likelihood executed at a later date. While not entirely dissimilar parquetry patterns can be seen on some Maltese pieces (see Manduca, p. 212), furniture from the island usually appears somewhat more naïve in conception, and normally makes use of veneers made of local timbers, especially olivewood. However, de Rohan would certainly have employed a particularly skilled ébéniste, and therefore an attribution to an unknown Maltese workshop cannot be entirely ruled out.

The geometric pattern of the stained parquetry recalls examples of Sicilian late 18^th century furniture, such as a commode illustrated in Colle, p. 50. Furthermore, the engraved medallions in the top frieze evoke those found on two cylinder bureaux probably made in Palermo (ill. in Colle, pp. 53-53). Finally, the ebonised strap-work has an interesting comparison in a pair of Sicilian Transitional commodes, sold Wannenes Genoa, 1 March 2011, lot 119.

In 1530 the island of Malta had been given in perpetual lease to the Knights Hospitaller, later known as Knights of Malta, by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Their reign would only come to an end with the capture of the island by Napoleon in 1798. The link between the island and Sicily had always been strong and, notwithstanding the occasional hostilities sparkled by the pretension of the King of Two Sicilies to the island, it is from there that the island derived most of its goods and enjoyed the closest commercial links.

EMMANUEL DE ROHAN-POLDUC

Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc (1725-1797) was born in Spain, where his father, a member of the distinguished French House of Rohan, and who had taken part in the Conspiration de Pontcallec against Philippe d’Orléans, the then Prince Regent, had been exiled. As a young man, de Rohan served at the Court of Spain, and later at that of Parma. Having joined the Order of St. John, he succeeded the Grand Master Francisco Ximenes de Texada as ruler of Malta upon the latter’s death in 1775. Most famously, he authored the Code de Rohan, a constitutional law book parts of which are still in use today, and commissioned the construction of several forts across the island.