Furniture

George I mahogany games table, 18th century. With a rectangular over hanging top with turret corners, a frieze drawer, cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The back left leg swings out ...

A good George II period mahogany card table, the shaped top over carved cabriole legs ending in hairy paw feet. The top, when opened, retains an old baize cover with 4 wells for mark...

William IV folding games or card table. This is a good quality piece with beautiful patina, it takes up little space and unfolds to a 3ft square games table. The base has a 4 point base with scroll feet and the top swivels to open out. The table has a new green baize playing area...

A fine French Napoleon III Second Empire Period (1852-1870) fliptop card game table. Make a statement with this striking example of high-quality Parisian craftsmanship. Exquisitel...

This magnificent games table incorporates some of the rarest English marbles, hardstones and fossil specimens, including Derbyshire Blue John. The scarcity of these coveted stones makes an inlaid circular piece of this size a truly exceptional and unique masterpiece. The tabletop, with its fabulous specimens surrounding an Ashford marble chessboard...

Antique George I mahogany games table with concertina action, 18th century. With a rectangular top with turret front corners, a frieze with concertina action, when the top is opened ...

With rectangular top with drop leaves and sliding game board opening to a backgammon surface over a false and working drawers, raised on square tapered legs. Casters.

An unusual George IV specimen marble backgammon table attributed to Gillows. This rectangular table is strongly attributed to Gillows. It has a rectangular top inlaid with a central chess board flanked by two backgammon fields, all inlaid with a multitude of specimen marbles. One edge carved and gilded with the Latin motto ‘Turpe est in patria vivere et patriam ignorare’. The oak base has a drawer for cards and playing pieces, all raised on a square section support with four splayed legs and the original brass castors. English, circa 1830. Provenance: Geoffrey Bennison Ltd, London, November 1983 The Mermaid House Collection, St. John’s Wood, London Property of a gentleman Private American collection The form of the base of this table is related to several known Gillows commissions from the late Regency period and the quality of the cabinet work also suggests that firm attribution to the firm. Backgammon tables, rather than more general games tables, are unusual at this date and the use of inlaid specimen marbles in the top suggests a client of wealth. Additionally, the Latin text on the edge of the table provides further clues. The text, Turpe est in patria vivere et patriam ignorare, translates as “it is shameful to live in your homeland and not know it”. This phrase dates back to antiquity but rose to prominence once again in the mid-18th century when used by the botanist and key Enlightenment figure Carl Linnaeus in his work on the native flora of Sweden. The combination of this phrase and the use of native English timbers and marbles is promoting English raw materials and craftsmanship at a time when the noble and the wealthy were focussed on European pietra dura tables. Mermaid House in St John’s Wood was re-designed by Chester Jones...

A luxurious array of rare marbles and hard stones are inset into the playing surface of this William IV-period chess table. The visually appealing arrangement incorporates specimens ...

Antique George III style mahogany games / center / side table, 19th century. With a circular top, a frieze with one drawer with brass hardware, resting on square tapered legs ending ...

American Empire period mahogany games table, 19th c., having rectangular flip top, over interior compartments, rising on double scroll base, ending on quadripartite scrolled feet. D...

A period William IV English mahogany sewing stand work table with inlaid chessboard top. circa 1830s Combining sophisticated elegance, warmth, and functional design, this outstandin...