William IV Burr Yew Wood Card Table c.1830

A fine William IV card table of exceptional quality, crafted in beautifully figured burr yew with deep, lively grain and a rich, warm patina. The fold-over top is veneered in highly decorative burr yew, bordered by a crossbanded edge, and opens to reveal what appears to be the original baize-lined playing surface. The top retains its original surface character, displaying the glowing amber tones for which early 19th-century yew furniture is especially prized. The frieze is embellished with carved roundels and a running gadrooned moulding, the whole supported on a boldly carved tapering pedestal with lotus-carved collar. The concave, gadrooned quadriform platform base is particularly impressive, terminating in four powerfully modelled lion paw feet — a feature associated with the finest late Regency and early William IV cabinetmaking. The table stands on its original concealed castors, all present and functioning smoothly. Origin and Attribution: The quality of timber selection, sculptural carving, and overall design strongly suggest a Scottish origin, very possibly Edinburgh, where burr yew furniture of this calibre was produced during the 1820s–30s. The combination of concave-sided platform base, deeply carved lion paw feet, lotus-carved collar, and richly figured burr yew aligns closely with documented Edinburgh work of the period and shows clear affinity with the output of leading Scottish cabinetmakers such as William Trotter and the Morison workshop. While no firm workshop attribution can be made, the table compares favourably in quality, form, and ornament to known Scottish examples. A superb, untouched example of early 19th-century furniture with exceptional presence and character. A full set of additional images is available on request.