An unusual slate topped parcel gilt walnut table by William Turner & Son

An unusual slate topped parcel gilt walnut table by William Turner & Son, the circular top painted reddish-brown with a delicate spray of naturalistic garden flowers in the centre, set into a walnut tripod base with rich gilt embellishments including a powerful guilloche to the frieze, with a paper label on the underside stating ‘Turner & Sons, Cabinet manufacturer and upholsterers, 16 & !8 Islington, Liverpool.’ English, circa 1860.

William Turner and Son, Cabinet Manufacturers, Islington, Liverpool.

William Turner is recorded as apprenticed to Samuel Chubbard of Liverpool in 1802.

An article in the Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser, 23rd October 1838, states: “We understand that Mr. William Turner, upholsterer and cabinet manufacturer of Islington, who recently fitted up the splendid new steam vessel, the Reindeer, is engaged to do the cabinet and upholstery work of her Majesty’s two magnificent new steam-vessels, the Merlin and Medusa, for the Liverpool and Dublin mail-packet service”. By 1858 the firm was named “W. Turner & Son”, and had completed an extensive renovation and expansion of stock and premises. They ceased trading in 1889.