A fine pair of George II giltwood and Breche Violette marble console tables

Lot 83 consists of a pair of impressive, ornately carved ‘Roman tables’ from about 1735-1740, designed in the antique manner as sideboard-tables for a banqueting hall. The ornament of the frame is intended to recall ancient poetry such as Ovid's Metamorphoses or Loves of the Gods, and as such the spread eagle would recall its role in bearing away the youthful Ganymede to serve as Jupiter's cup-bearer at the banquet of the Gods. The eagle's claws rest upon a scallop shell, an iconic representation of the goddess Venus.

The original design of this early Georgian pier-table is associated with Lord Burlington's protegé, the architect William Kent (d. 1748), who was granted the title 'Master Carpenter' of King George I's Board of Works. In 1725, Kent featured Roman eagles in his illustrations for Alexander Pope's translation of The Odyssey, Homer's epic poem which recounted the history of Rome's foundation after the Trojan Wars. Kent used scenes from The Odyssey in his Roman-mosaic ceiling for King George I's apartment or gallery at Kensington Palace.

A fine and rare Queen Anne needlework walnut and beechwood wing armchair

This elegant Queen Anne needlework armchair from circa 1710-1715 features a serpentine crest rail flanked by wings that continue to out-scrolling arms and is upholstered in 18th century needlework worked in gros and petit point polychrome wool with silk highlights depicting the Baptism of the Eunuch of Ethiopia by Philip (Acts VIII.26-39). This in turn was derived from an illustration by Matthew Merian of Basel in the 1627 New Testament¹.

A Chinese export black and gilt lacquer bureau cabinet

Lot 53 is this beautiful decorated bureau cabinet in with black and gilt lacquer which dates to the mid-18^th century and is similar to one in the Victoria & Albert Museum collection in London. Like its museum counterpart, it is likely to have originated in Guangzhou in Southern China which at the time was the only trading port where Europeans were allowed to purchase Chinese goods. The design of the bureau demonstrates the Chinese craftsmen’s ability in emulating Western furniture, although upon opening the pediment doors, the arrangement of recesses, divisions, drawers and slides is more Asian in style.

A bronze figural torchere 'Femme Indienne'

After debuting at the Paris Salon in 1870, Emile Coriolan Hippolyte Guillemin became well-known for his taste for 'Orientalist' figures, Accommodating the taste of the wealthier and better travelled buyers, he specialised in producing models of figures from 'exotic' far-flung regions: courtesans from Japan, women and men from Turkey and Algiers, hunters and falconers from the Middle East and women from India and Persia.

This figure of Femme Indienne was first modelled in 1872 and, after acquiring the rights to produce this model and two other pairs of sculptures, Barbedienne offered this sculpture in their 1886 catalogue as "Deux Femmes, Indienne et Persane" depicting both an Indian and a Persian female lifting torcheres in their upraised arms. They were offered in a choice of sizes: 200cm, 120cm, 95cm and 78cm high. An example of the largest version of the pair were installed to flank the entrance to the Barbedienne estate and were sold in 1984 at the Hotel des Ventes for 530,000 francs.

A Limoges grisaille painted enamel plate

Lot 18 is an ornate, 16th century Limoges gilt and enamelled grisaille painted copper plate from the workshop of Pierre Reymond.⁠⁠ Depicted on the recto are Jason and Medea conversing in a forest, taken from an engraving by René Boyvin after drawings by Léonard Thiry for the 1563 publication of the Book of the Conquest of the Golden Fleece. The borders feature interlinked scrolls and chariots interspersed with frolicking putti and satyrs. The verso features a male profile in the centre surrounded by bands of scrollwork and fruit.⁠

Browse these and the many other beautiful pieces on sale at our Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art sale on 24 and 25 June via the link below.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 June, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in Newbury: Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Friday 20 June: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 21 June: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 22 June: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 23 June: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 24 June: 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 25 June: 9am-4pm
• Dreweatts Remote Viewing Service | Available from Friday 20 June
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Saturday 21 June

Notes

¹M. Swain, 'Pictorial Chair Covers: Some Engraved Sources', Furniture History, 1975, pp. 77-78, figs. 164-166, 168.