Object Description
A Superb Quality George III Period, Late 18th Century, Mahogany Rectangular Butlers Tray, Of Exceptionally Rich Colour And Patina, Having Elegant Shaped Sides With Pierced Carrying Handles And Dropped Front, Raised On Full Height Folding Stand With Square Upright Supports.
The relative simple butlers tray and folding stand, which can be found a huge variety of shapes, sizes, qualities and overall designs, is probably one of the most stereotypical items of Georgian english furniture one could find. Designed for practicality and function, as the name suggests the original purpose of these items was for them to be portable surfaces which could easily be moved from one room to another and set down easily on the folding stand.
This is really nice one of its type, having rich mahogany timbers which retain a lovely colour and patina and although as one would expect you can see that it has had a life and been well used over the years it remains in very good condition overall. The folding stand is also very elegant and certainly overall the whole article is very much fit for original purpose.
From a practical perspective this could be used in the middle of the room, against a wall, or even against the side or back of a settee or large chair. We have also known them to be used as bedside tables on occasion. The dropped front makes it very practical indeed with far less chance that one would catch whatever they are placing on or off the tray on the edge of the gallery due to it being lower.
Should one wish to adjust the height of the tray when on the stand this can be relatively easily done, by simply having somebody change the length of the webbed straps which form the top surface of the stand. The shorter they are then obviously the higher the stand rests and vice versa.
As with all items we offer for sale this Georgian Mahogany Butlers Tray has been inspected and attended to in our workshops by our highly skilled, specialist trained, antique furniture restorers and received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale to ensure that it is in excellent condition and ready for immediate placement within the home.
Circa 1800.
Height 29in.
Width 28.5in.
Depth 18.25in.