Research
Of statuary marble, alabastro fiorito, veneered and carved mahogany. The bow ended mahogany and ebony strung crossbanded top with laurel and berry carved edge is old, but possibly not original, and rests upon an alabastro fiorito frieze enclosed by statuary marble ogee undermold and ‘D’ section. The frieze interrupted by projecting square blocks with finely carved rosette roundels. The whole raised on two superbly drawn carved lion monopodiae. Very old repairs to frieze and leg. The small octagonal blocks under the two lion monopodiae possibly very old replacements.
Provenance:
Sir James Goldsmith Collection, Paris.
The present table is an example of Regency furniture design, which drew heavily on the study of surviving artifacts from the ancient world, particularly from Greece, Rome and Egypt. Indeed it is exceptionally rare for a large side table to be composed nearly all of marble, being directly evocative of furniture of the ancient world. An English table of closely related form and proportions, but executed in wood, was previously in the collection of Viscount Norwich and Lady Diana Cooper.
The frieze of the table is veneered with alabastro fiorito. The stone is among the most beautiful ancient stones, with its distinct veining, warm color and translucent luster. According to Pliny the Elder, alabaster of the type which he described as “melleo” or honey colored was the most prized. He mentions that alabaster takes its name from a the castle of Alabastro near the city of Thebes in Egypt. The Romans started to import the stone during the 2nd century BC when it was used to make busts of gods and prominent individuals, as well as vessels to contain perfumes and ointments, as it was believed that alabaster would best preserve these. Alabaster was also used to make columns, such as the large column from the Museum of the Villa Albani that Faustino Corsi Romano refers to in his Pietre Antiche of 1843.
The very restrained design and form of the present table indicates that it was a piece made in England (or possibly in Italy for an English client). Although the crafting of marble is more readily associated with Italy and France, the existence in England of an important chimney surround industry meant this country was home to large numbers of craftsmen capable of the high quality work found on the present table.
Full research report available on request.