A George III kingwood sofa table by George Simson

A George III kingwood sofa table by George Simson, with burr yew banding, the crossbanded drop-flap top above a pair of frieze mahogany lined drawers, each with a printed paper trade label inscribed 'GEORGE SIMSON, UPHOLDER, CABINET MAKER AND UNDERTAKER, No. 19, South side of S. Pauls Church Yard, LONDON', with a high stretcher and on solid ends, splay legs and brass caps and castors, 71.3cm high, 150.6cm wide (open), 70.7cm deep.

George Simson is listed in Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert's Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840. He established his business at 19 St. Paul' Churchyard in 1787 and continued to trade until 1839. In 1793 he subscribed to Sheraton's Drawing Book and in 1803 was included in the list of master cabinet makers in the Cabinet Dictionary. Little is known of Simson's clients although payments were made to him by the 2nd Viscount Palmerston possibly in connection with Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire. See also Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, for examples of his work and a discussion of his labels. The labels on this lot date from before 1800.