A William IV kingwood, parquetry and parcel-gilt octagonal breakfast table, circa 1840

Numerous examples of William IV tables by Edward Holmes Baldock are known for their boldly-scrolled legs, octagonal tops and parquetry arrangement of fine specimen woods, such as the centre table once in the collection of Sir John Stuart Hepburn Forbes, 8th Baronet of Monymusk and Pitsligo, later sold Sotheby’s London, 28 March 2017, lot 8. On the present table, though, the stem is of baluster form with parcel-gilding, and the base and feet are decorated with gilt scrolls, both features that clearly distinguish it from these more common Baldock models. These decorative elements, particularly the gilt scrolls on the base, bear resemblance to the furnishings made for Samuel Whitbread II's Southill, Bedfordshire. Although the tabletop of Southill’s drawing-room table is circular, the richly decorated base is comparable. (C. Musgrave, Regency Furniture 1800 to 1830, illustration. 31)

Additionally, similarities can be drawn with the Loo Table featured in Christopher Gilbert’s Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, vol. II, p. 317-318, cat. 394, which shares the octagonal tabletop and the parcel-gilt base with the present lot. Another example is the table demonstrated in the centre of George Smith’s 'Octangular Tent Room' from 1826, illustrated in John Morley’s Regency Design Gardens Buildings Interiors Furniture, p. 254, pl. LXXII, which also has a similar arrangement of specimen parquetry, a parcel-gilt stem and gilt scrolled feet.

A comparable parquetry and parcel-gilt centre table was sold at Christie’s London, 8 June 2016, lot 265. Additionally, an octagonal breakfast table similar to but without the parcel-gilt features was sold in these Rooms, 26 September 2003, lot 135.