The Glemham Tables - A rare pair of English painted tables, late 17th/early 18th century

Property from Glemham Hall, Suffolk

originally with a black japanned surface and now grey painted, each with a large figured grey marble slab moulded to each of the four sided, raised on an arcaded frieze with acorn pendant finials, the octagonal baluster feet united by shaped stretchers on bun feet, later decorated, slabs period but possibly associated

80cm. high, 170.5cm. wide, 89cm. deep; 2ft. 7½in., 5ft. 7in., 2ft. 11in

This lot will be on view in our New Bond Street galleries on 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th January 2024.

Provenance
Possibly Dudley North (1641-1691) for his London House;

Thence by descent;

Until sold with Glemham Hall in 1923 to Captain John Murray Cobbold (1897–1944) and his wife Lady Blanche (1897-1988);

Thence by descent.

Literature
Part illustrated, Avary Tipping, "Glemham Hall, Suffolk, a Seat of the Earl of Guilford," Country Life, January 1910, p. 25.

This image reproduced again, Avary Tipping, English Homes, Period IV - Vol. I, Late Stuart, 1649-1714, London, 1920, p. 14.

Catalogue note
The Tables in 1910

This evocative pair of tables were possibly conceived for an extraordinary chinoiserie scheme at Glemham, certainly in the early 20th century there appears to be such a conceit at the house. A rare photograph from 1910 captures one of the tables, and shows an original decorated surface, with carved details and the legs picked out in light-coloured paint. These japanned bases with their white marble slaps would also have created a rich contrast. The table is shown in situ beneath two John Vanderbank tapestries which date from circa 1700. Each has a dark ground populated with brightly coloured chinoiserie subjects.

These magnificent English tapestries were acquired for Yale University and are now in the collection of Yale University Art Gallery (accession number 1926.30). They are said to have been acquired by Elihu Yale, whose daughter Katherine (d.1715) married Dudley North's son, also called Dudley, who eventually resided at Glemham.

Comparative Tables

For a related table, which may have come from the same workshop, see that sold at Christie's, London, 21 March 1994, lot 49. It featured a marble top on arcading with octagonal tapering legs and retained its original surface, with turned and carved details in white on a faux verde antico ground. There is also a group of painted tables at Petworth House, Sussex which are worth of comparison, these have gilt-decoration on a black ground and also feature tapered legs, united by flattened, shaped stretchers. These tables were possibly used to support oriental porcelains and are recorded in 18th century inventories taken at the house (see G. Jackson-Stops, 'Furniture at Petworth', Apollo, May 1977, pp. 359-360, fig. 4). There are three further tables from the same period in the Northumberland Collection, formerly installed at Northumberland House in London (demolished 1874). These have marble slabs which are of a large size with arcaded aprons and boldly turned legs (see Helen, 8^th Duchess of Northumberland, Albury Park & Princes Gate, Furniture in the Collection of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, Privately Published, 1930, fig. 3 & 4).

The painted surface

Beneath the later 20th century grey paint there are tantalising areas of an exposed black 'Japanned' surface. There is no primer or undercoat under this which is unusual - it is resting directly on clean wood. This 'black' surface must have had a very glossy finish, like lacquer, as the carbon black is mixed in a rich medium, and there is a glaze, or varnish, over the top.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.

Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.

Veuillez noter que l'Article 12 des Conditions Générales de Vente applicables aux Vendeurs (Ventes Effectuées Exclusivement en Ligne) n'est pas applicable pour ce lot.