A Grand Console Table After the Design of William Kent

Object Description

A Grand Console Table
After the Design of William Kent

Of grand stately proportions and constructed in carved gilt wood, with six cabriole legs on scrolled block feet, dressed with acanthus leaves, with guilloches, to the faces, imbrications to the sides, supporting an addorsed Vitruvian scroll faced apron, centred with an oversize Venus scallop shell, issuing knotted oak leaf garlands and pendants. The everted platform is of green breccia marble.
English, circa 1880

The design of this table relates to several examples inspired by William Kent. In particular a well-documented table from Houghton Hall, Norfolk supplied to Robert Walpole. This example is by far the largest iteration of this design we have ever come across.

Object Literature

Comparative literature:

Margaret Jourdain, The Work of William Kent Artist Painter Designer and Landscape Gardener. London New York: Country Life; C. Scribner’s Sons; 1948, fig. 138, showing the related table from Houghton Hall.

William Kent (1685-1748)

A leading exponent of the Palladian revival he was sponsored by the Earl of Burlington. In the great Palladian houses of the period, of which Raynham, Holkham and Houghton are celebrated examples, Kent made free use of the rich and ornate baroque style which he had studied during his travels in Italy.

Object Condition

Excellent condition

Object Details