A pair of George I giltwood side tables with black japanned tops, attributed to James Moore or Benjamin Goodison.

Note: The tables retain much of the original gilding. The carved bulbous toes as well as the x-frame stretchers are original. The black japanned tops have been restored.

These tables belong to a select group of tables and stands for cabinets which are either documented or associated with the work of James Moore and his apprentice Benjamin Goodison. On Moore’s death in 1726, Goodison took over many of his former master’s commissions, and for that reason it is virtually impossible to distinguish between the two men’s work. These tables are extremely rare examples, as firstly they are particularly small, and secondly the japanned tops are very early.

Several examples of table frames of this type are known. Some are in the Royal Collection, including one incised ‘MOORE’ in the carved gesso top, and others are at various locations including Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, Houghton Hall in Norfolk and Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. All share the same distinctive features, of square-section legs joined seamlessly to the top frame and terminating in bulbous carved toes, strengthened by relatively plain cross stretchers, with the only carved decoration apart from the toes being a quadrant moulding running along the inside of the legs and frame. The remaining areas are left very plain.