A highly important and rare pair of early 18th century carved gesso side tables by James Moore the Elder, retaining most of the original gilding, and each having a later ‘Green Serravezza’ marble rectangular top above a concave frieze with arcaded strapwork and bell flower motif; on square baluster tapering legs with acanthus carved hips and scroll tops, joined by curved stretchers with lozenge centre, all richly decorated with strapwork, and terminating in quatrefoil volute feet.
Note: Gesso tables were the ultimate status symbol in the early 18th century. James Moore the Elder was one of the most prolific cabinet-makers of his time, supplying the royal household as well as many important families with his furniture. A gesso table in the Royal Collection, commissioned by George I and signed by Moore, shares many design elements with this pair of tables, including the distinctive concave frieze with arcaded decoration, the typical square legs and the unusual stretcher.
Literature:
Harold Clifford Smith, The Complete History of Buckingham Palace: Its Furniture, Decoration and History, 1931, illus. 226-7.
Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert, The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p. 618. Jacques Dubarry de Lassale, Identifying Marble, 2000, p. 187.
Illustrated:
Margaret Jourdain, Furniture at Beningbrough Hall II, Country Life, 3 December 1927, pp. 824-9.
Ralph Edwards and Margaret Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, revised edition, 1946, p. 92, fig. 17.
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Provenance
Possibly supplied to James, 3rd Viscount Scudamore, Holme Lacy, Herefordshire.
The Earl of Chesterfield, Beningbrough Hall, Yorkshire.
Private collection, USA.
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