The Bute Kneehole Table: Mahogany and gilt-brass mounted kneehole side table

The Bute Kneehole Table: A magnificent carved mahogany and gilt-brass mounted kneehole side table attributed to Cornelius Martin and John Boson, likely designed by William Kent
English. Circa 1735.
Measurements
Height: 32" (81 cm); Width: 53" (134.5 cm); Depth: 29 1/3" (74.5 cm).

Research:
Of Cuban mahogany with gilt-brass mounts. The canted and inverted breakfront replaced verde antico marble top above a carved foliate mold, the central section with a drawer carved with greek-key decoration interspaced with rosette mounts, the central mount a key escutcheon, the outer rosettes with replaced drop handles, above an open kneehole, the spandrels mounted with an acanthine gilt-brass rosette, the arch carved with bead-and-reel decoration, flanked by projecting terminals, each terminal headed by a square block set to each face with an gilt-brass rosette above a carved scroll, the outer face carved with acanthus and guilloche, the sides of each terminal with punched decoration, the inverted canted sections each fitted with a bank of five drawers above a shallow arch, each drawer mounted with gilt-brass fronds of acanthus centered by a foliate gilt-brass key-escutcheon, the inverted sides headed with carved Greek-key mounted with three conforming gilt-brass rosettes above a carrying handle and divided by a section of carved molding from a conforming shallow arch, each terminal raised on a stepped and molded concave plinth. Almost certainly originally with velvet covered top.

Marks:
Bears stenciled inventory number to center drawer: 1647
Bears paper label to top right-hand drawer: This writing table I give to Anthony Cazelet November 1973 / Zara Cazalet

Provenance:
Lord Robert Crichton-Stuart
Sold by Sotheby’s, London. June 26, 1959, lot 178, Property of Lord Robert Crichton-Stuart
Acquired by Mallett at that sale
Acquired directly from the collection of the estate of the Late Sir Peter Cazalet, London, racehorse trainer to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Published:
Cescinsky, Herbert. English Furniture from Gothic to Sheraton, London, 1929, pl. 255.
Sotheby’s London June 26, 1959, lot 178, Page 41, Plate 13

The present side table, formerly in the collection of Lord Robert Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute, is likely to be based on a design by renowned polymath architect William Kent (circa 1685-1748) and sculpted by celebrated carver John Boson (b. circa 1705), together with cabinetmaker Cornelius Martin. Notably, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713–1792) had been a close friend to one of Kent’s foremost patrons, Frederick, Prince of Wales. The Earl was certainly aware of Kent’s designs for the prince, including a magnificent epergne, a version of which he commissioned for himself.

The distinctive canted form of the table, centered by an arched aperture, appears to be without precedent in European furniture design, and in England there exists only a small number of variants of the model. It seems certain that the group owes its origin to William Kent.