Superb quality English mid 19thc rosewood specimen marble top games table

A superb quality English mid 19th century (circa 1845) rosewood specimen marble top games table, possibly by the Woodley family, Devon.

LVS1523

£5750.00 GBP

This superb table consists of a square specimen marble top, probably of Devonian stone. The top consists of an outer green marble border (possibly verde antico marble or serpentine which was found in the South West of England) with an unusual geometric border and central chequer board of specimen marbles of various tones – the Devonshire ‘marbles’ are not true metamorphic marbles but highly dense and fine grained Devonian limestone formed approx. 400 million years ago.

The superb top is supported by a sophisticated rosewood base consisting of an unusual carved rosewood edge with foliate decoration to the four corners.

This leads down to an elegant finely carved reeded and fluted column with naturalistic bulbous baluster carved design below with foliate collar, this leading down to a stepped moulded quatre-form base with finely carved scroll feet with castors to the underside.

This table is a transitional piece, the design of the base evolving from William IVth to the early Victorian period.

John Woodley (1814- 1862) was from St Marychurch in Devon, his Father established a marble works in 1809 and passed the business down to his two sons, Daniel and John around 1836, they subsequently employed many stone masons and labourers.

John Woodley became the most recognised from his contemporaries, producing wonderful specimen marble tables for the wealthy, exhibiting at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and winning a medal.

He received a visit from Prince Albert the following year which resulted in supplying stone items to Queen Victoria for Osborne House and the ‘Royal Marble Works’ was then established.

Tables by John Woodley can be seen in the Natural History Museum and the V&A.

This table is in very good condition for age, is of stable construction and can go straight into home - although this table has the chequer board top it can also be used as a decorative centre of side table etc.

Size:

Height: 29'' / 73.75cm

Width: 24.5'' / 62.25cm

Depth: 24.5'' / 62.25cm