George III Satinwood Occasional Table, c. 1765

George III Satinwood Occasional Table
In the Chippendale taste
English, circa 1765

Of diminutive scale, the table has a shaped top crossbanded in calamander with an ebony molded edge above a conforming frieze drawer with rosewood inlay. Inspired by contemporary French tables, the graceful proportions and restrained ornament exemplify the Chippendale taste of the mid-eighteenth century. Raised on attenuated ebony-inlaid cabriole legs, the subtle use of contrasting woods reflects the refined cabinetmaking of the period.

A low three-quarter gallery encloses the top, while the single drawer provides discreet storage. Compact in scale, the table lends itself to a variety of uses, whether as a side table, writing table, or beside a chair or bed.

The first time I heard someone describe a piece of furniture as “beautifully drawn” was about this very table more than twenty years ago. The description here certainly holds up.

PROVENANCE
With Hyde Park Antiques, Ltd., New York, United States;
Private collection, New York, United States.

LITERATURE
C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, vol. II, p. 238, fig. 436.
A. Bowett and J. Lomax, Thomas Chippendale 1718–1779: A Celebration of British Craftsmanship and Design, 2018, pp. 40–51.