George II Period Mahogany Architect’s Reading Tripod Table

Object Description

No 11128

A rare George II Period Mahogany Architect’s Reading Tripod Table the rectangular hinged top with a ratchet adjustment and retractable book rest, above pivoting frieze drawers, on a telescopic action square pedestal and tripod base with pad feet.

The lock on the easel top is key operated and spring loaded so that when the top is shut, sliding bolts are engaged through a sprung button to lock the pivoting drawers as well. This is a very sophisticated locking system.

Attribution: An almost identical table is illustrated on a trade advertisement card issued by Thomas Potter who had premises in High Holborn in London in 1737, and may well be the same person who is recorded as the partner of John Kelsey and who supplied furniture to Sir Richard Colt Hoare for Barn Elms House London in 1738.

Circa 1745

Price: £8,500-00p.

Height: 30¼<43¼”, 77<110 cms / Width: 27½”, 70 cms / Depth: 20”, 51 cms. NB: In contemporary literature, these are often referred to as architect’s tables, artist’s tables and reading tables, and it is often difficult to know what exact use they were given to, but we think that they were most likely a gentleman’s library piece rather than professional architect’s tables.

Object Literature

Bowett, A. (2009). Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740. Woodbridge, UK: Antique Collectors’ Club. pp 140, 141, 242, 243, 264. Plates 3:85, 5:81, 5:121.

Gilbert, C. and Murdoch, T. (1993). John Channon and brass-inlaid furniture 1730-1760. London, UK: Yale University Press. pp 19, 20, 27. Plates 11, 19 & 20.

Macquoid, P. and Edwards, R. (1983). The Dictionary of English Furniture from the Middle Ages to the Late Georgian Period, Volume III. Suffolk, UK: Baron Publishing. pp 185-187.

Object Condition

Good condition.

Object Details