A 19thC Italian Painted & Specimen Marble Topped Centre Table c.1890; The Estate of Sir David Tang

Object Description

The good quality specimen inlaid marble topped centre table, showing an array of Italian quarried marbles, radiating from a central circular section of Corso della mola di S.Ambrogio, from the province of Verona, to a border with ovals, circles and lozenge shaped specimens, to an outer Cipollino nero marble border, the top on a buff painted acanthus carved pine tripod base with scrolled feet, and surviving from nineteenth century Italy and the estate of the late Sir David Tang (1954-2017).

Object History

The Estate of the Late Sir David Tang.

Object Literature

The variety of marbles native to Italy used here is superb with many being shown in the publication of 1825, Faustino Corsi’s ‘Catalogo ragionato d’una collezione di pietre di decorazione’ which can be accessed online.

Sir David Wing-cheung Tang, KBE, was a Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist and socialite. He was best known for founding the Shanghai Tang fashion chain in 1994, which he sold in 1998 to Richemont but also was also hailed as a discerning art collector with impeccable taste. After Tang passed away, Stephen Fry wrote an article in the Financial Times, remembering Tang as “a gambler capable of losing £250,000 in one night.”

Sir David Tang’s penchant for house parties were well known; determined to be in bed by 10:30pm, he was known to empty his living room with a clap of his hands, urging guests with a stern, “come on, time to go”.

A fine and supremely decorative table that has had a life thus far presumably as flamboyant as its illustrious previous owner.

Object Condition

The table is in very good overall condition; there is not a great deal of movement or fragility and there are no major flaws or deficiencies to note. The drop on marble top is in super condition, though could be further cleaned, and the base has some paint losses to it giving a nice aged feel.

Object Details