Fine & Important Late 19th Century Giltwood Side Table in Style of William Kent - English c.1880

A Fine and Important Late 19th Century Giltwood Side Table in the Style of William Kent, English c.1880 This slab table, as they were known in the 18th century, supports its original mottled green marble top. The table frame itself is gilded throughout and a riot of ornament. The frieze has scrolling festoons of leaves carved in high relief underneath a complementary moulding. On the apron is a large section of drop carving, centered by an extraordinarily fine mask of Bacchus, his hair trimmed with vines and grapes. To either side of the mask are swags of scrollwork and fruit and flowers, again in extremely high relief. The four cabriole legs have lion mask knees, the lions’ faces fierce and naturalistic in their carving. Further flourishes of leafwork and scrolls follow and the legs terminate in hairy lions’ paw feet. Although clearly inspired by the work of the likes of John Vardy and William Kent, see for comparison the mask and swags on Vardy’s wonderful design drawing for a table at Spencer House which is preserved in the British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1962-0714-61 the present table does not appear to be a direct copy of any well known surviving table or published 18th century table design. Instead the maker has taken inspiration from tables of the George II period, both Palladian examples and early rococo pieces as this is a table in transitional style, and fused them together to create something entirely new. The carving is of exceptional quality throughout, the mask of Bacchus in particular suggesting the hand of a sculptor such is the level of detail employed. An interesting comparison can be made between the present table and a famous card table executed c.1740 by William Linnell for Stourhead in Wiltshire https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/731655 Much of the same ornament is used on both tables though Linnell’s table employs much more shallow relief. The use of Bacchus on furniture was common, implying a love of entertainment and riotous parties as well as the consumption of wine of course. As such, Bacchic imagery is often used in entrance halls and dining rooms of great houses and the present table would be particularly appropriate in either of those settings.