A pair of George III carved mahogany serpentine fold-over tables, possibly Scottish, circa 1765, in the manner of Thomas Chippendale

the card table with an inset green baise top and the tea table with a polished surface, each with a single gateleg and fitted with a concealed counter drawer, with scrolled carved cabriole legs ending in chamfered pad feet

Probably Sir William Forbes, 6th Bt. (1739-1806)

These tables are of superior quality. The surfaces appear repolished however this does not detract from the finely figured mahogany. There are old marks chips and scratches as well as some dents to the top and the carved detail. The tops with ring and watermarks. Minor evidence of old wood worm to the back. The legs, notably to one, appear to have some remedial attention and repair during the long history of this pair, once again this does not detract. Extended 99cm x 101cm.
"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."

These distinctive fold-over tables, with their re-entrant corners, two-tier scrolled decoration to the frieze and quatrefoil motifs to the front legs, are possibly the output of a Scottish cabinet-maker emulating the latest French influenced fashions to emerge from London. As Sebastian Pryke notes in his illuminating article of the practice of copyists working for Scottish patrons, ‘only the richest, and most extravagant, of British aristocrats and gentry gave no thought to economy, and where savings could be made with no loss to fashion they invariably were, especially in the country, and especially when transport of fragile objects was both risky, costly and time consuming’ (Sebastian Pryke, ‘Pattern furniture and Estate Wrights in Eighteenth-Century Scotland’, Furniture History, 1994, Vol. XXX, p. 100). It seems likely therefore that the present tables relate to a growing body of high quality mid-18th century Scottish furniture that was chiefly produced by upmarket Edinburgh cabinet-makers or skillful Estate wrights, relying on the latest pattern books and often copying directly from examples executed in London.

Perhaps the best-known reference to pattern furniture is the Earl of Dumfries’ comment regarding the furnishing of Dumfries House in Ayrshire, stating ‘he would only have a patteron [sic] Elbow Chair, and the two Settees made at London, and the other I should chose to get made in Edinburgh’ (S. Pyke, op. cit., p. 100). The Dumfries commission makes an interesting point of reference for the present tables, as the finest items were supplied by Thomas Chippendale with pieces from Edinburgh and an anonymous Estate wright used to complement and supplement the London furnishings. A superb pair of serpentine card-tables where supplied for the Blue Drawing Room which, aside from the comparable foliate detailing and boldly scrolled feet, are also applied with a red wash to the carcass (see Christopher Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, pp. 220-221, figs. 402-404). Whilst this trait is associated with the authorship of Chippendale, it is unlikely he would have employed a simple single gate-leg action as seen on the present tables.

Tantalizingly, no designs for card-tables were included in the Director (1754) and very few card/tea-tables are known to have been supplied by Chippendale during his Director period. Although Dumfries House is located some 180 miles South-West of Fettercairn, the commission would undoubtedly have had a wide-reaching influence on cabinet-makers throughout Scotland. It is therefore conceivable that the present tables are the work of a leading Edinburgh cabinet-maker, such as Alexander Peter, who also supplied the majority of the furniture to Dumfries and would have been very familiar with Chippendale's output.