Fine Regency Mahogany Breakfront Serving Table After the Designs of George Smith, Retaining Its Original Serving Rail

A fine Regency mahogany breakfront serving table after the designs of George Smith, retaining its original serving rail. This highly interesting table is of restrained breakfront outline and of architectural inspiration. It is unusual in having a shaped under tier, the concave section in the centre designed to allow a cellaret or wine cooler to be placed between the central legs. Whilst the back legs on the piece are fluted and dealt with in the late 18th century neoclassical manner, the front legs are of faceted form with inlaid brass stringing, sometimes found on knife urns such as one in our workshop that would pair perfectly with this piece. The front legs are mounted with lion masks with ringed handles and bronzed hairy paw feet. The table draws its inspiration from a design published by George Smith in his A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, published in 1808 and illustrated below. What makes the present table particularly noteworthy is that it retains its fine brass serving rail, designed to help display items such as chargers and silver salvers used as part of the dining equipage. These rails are frequently lost over time and so this survival is a rare one, especially given the particularly high quality of the metalwork with finely cast urn finials and arrow head detailing that has been chased in the finest manner. An extremely practical yet highly decorative piece of furniture. Circa 1815.