A Regency period console table from England c.1820

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A Regency period console table from England c.1820

About the Item

A Thomas Hope designed console table of mahogany and ebonised timber from the Regency period in England c.1820. This elegant console table is attributed to the designs of Thomas Hope who authoured an influential book on interior decoration and furniture design published in 1808. He was from an extremely wealthy Dutch family and was able to spend years abroad studying the arts and architecture of classical civilizations. He made copious notes and drawings from his travels and this console draws directly upon his observations. Please notice that the rectangular top is a single board of gorgeous mahogany with its characteristic warm colour and luscious grain. Mahogany is not a native wood to England and like any natural material varies in quality and therefore cost. The fineness of this top is immediately apparent. Beneath the top is a horizontal frieze of mahogany veneer set in a vertical arrangement chosen so the light will reflect in a discernably different manner than if the mahogany was set running side to side. A subtle and discreet band of brass inlay finishes the base of the frieze and extends across the front and the sides. The pattern is a stylized Etruscan wave and was Hope's own variation on this classical motif. The two front legs are each carved from a solid piece of timber and are in the form of a lion monopodia. This term describes a support column seen extensively throughout the classical architecture of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt featuring the head of a lion atop a single foot. These legs are distinguished with a pitch black finish known as "ebonising" in reference to the use of ebony timber. As ebony is exceedingly rare and does not come in large logs it was mainly used as contrasting inlay and first made its appearance as a decorative choice during the age of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Each of these legs are carved in three dimensions and are meant to be seen from all sides to appreciate their sculptural grandeur. It is fascinating to see the areas where the ebonised finish has been rubbed through over the years as it gives a sense of the passage of almost two centuries. Notice how the back legs stand upon a plinth base and support flat pilasters with a interior moulded edge. This design again was taken from classical architecture but translated here to a free standing piece of furniture. The use of these direct allusions to the splendour of ancient civilizations was a common practice during the Regency period and built upon the public's awareness of the discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the eighteenth century and the first examples of the wonders of ancient Egypt disseminated through drawings, engravings and paintings. The handsome and spare quality of this console table translates extraordinarily well to life in the twenty-first century as its bold nature complements current interiors visually and its serving capacity still provides a necessary function.

Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 49 in (124.46 cm)Depth: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Mahogany
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: EFH2741stDibs: U1104048668439