An exceptionally fine and rare George III satinwood and pollard oak Pembroke table .

Object Description

An exceptionally fine and rare George III satinwood and pollard oak Pembroke table. The padauk top is veneered in satinwood cantered by large ovals of tightly clustered burr pollard oak reserves, bordered in princess wood and lined with fine ebony and box stringing. Similarly, the tapering chamfered legs are exquisitely inlaid with satinwood and tipped with gilt brass and leather wheeled castors, circa 1790.

The overall appearance of the table is very modern, with slim tapering legs and bold use of light and dark timbers of the finest quality. Surely this design concept influenced and inspired mid-century modern furniture.

Object History

Provenance: Private collection, Holland Park Royal Borough of Kensington London

Object Literature

Image 2 (in black & white) from literature – English Furniture 1500-1840 by Geoffrey Beard & Judith Goodison Dictionary Of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Furniture History Society, Mayhew, John and Ince William, Page 589-598

George Hepplewhite was a cabinetmaker, regarded as having been one of the ‘big three’ English furniture designers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Sheraton and Thomas Chippendale. There are no pieces of furniture made by Hepplewhite or his firm known to exist but he gave his name to a distinctive style of light, elegant furniture that was fashionable between circa 1775 and 1800. Here we have an exceptionally fine George III Padauk Pembroke table veneered in satinwood, with large ovals of tightly clustered burr Pollard oak to all three leaves, further bordered in princess wood, circa 1790, George Hepplewhite stated that “Pembroke tables are the most useful of this species of furniture they maybe of various shapes. The long square and ovals are the most fashionable. These articles admit of considerable elegance in the workmanship and ornaments.

Object Details