A rare early Victorian mahogany 'Jupe's patent' expanding dining table by Johnstone & Jeanes

A rare early Victorian mahogany 'Jupe's patent' expanding dining table by Johnstone & Jeanes, the circular top with a moulded edge expanding to accommodate either eight small or eight large additional leaves with brass tips, housed in a fitted case, the central brass capstan boss inscribed 'JOHNSTONE & JEANES PATENTEES', the central block stamped 'JOHNSTONE, JUPE & CO. NEW BOND ST. LONDON 10288', the bearers with stencilled numbers and with corresponding numbers stamped to the leaves, the iron mechanism stamped 'JUPE'S PATENT' in various places, above a substantial turned baluster and fluted stem, a platform base and on scroll carved lion's paw feet, the leaf cabinet also stamped 'JOHNSTONE & JEANES NEW BOND ST. LONDON', 71.7cm high, 152cm diameter (closed), 184.5cm diameter (with smaller leaves), 214cm diameter (with larger leaves).

By all accounts less than fifty of these technical marvels were produced and the present lot was made by the firm of Johnstone & Jeanes in the early 1840s. This type of radially expanding dining table was invented by Robert Jupe of 47 Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square and he patented his mechanism for his 'Improved Expanding Table' in September 1835. What was ingenious was that the table expanded from a common centre extending both the width and breadth. It differed from the telescoping table patented by Robert Gillow which extended laterally and was an improvement on existing expanding dining tables which clipped extensions on to the edge of the tables. The new design became very successful with the nobility and wealthy clients visiting Johnstone, Jupe & Co.'s showrooms to marvel at the new invention and how the round table could be expanded 'immediately, and without the slightest difficulty' to various sizes'. Robert Jupe and John Johnstone's partnership ended in 1842, when Johnstone formed a new firm called 'Johnstone and Jeanes'. The present lot was obviously produced in this transitional period as the brass boss is stamped 'Johnstone & Jeanes' but the block includes Jupe's name and the iron arms are stamped 'JUPE'S PATENT'.

Literature

Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, 1700-1840, pp. 35-36 and pp. 283-285. Moss Harris Ltd., A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art, volume III, p.431. Frances Collard, Regency Furniture, p.24.

For similar examples with comparable bases see Sotheby's London, 6th June 2006, lot 368 which sold for £88,000. Christie's New York, Living with Art, 13th-14th October 2016, lot 122 which fetched

106,250, Doyle's New York, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, 24th May 2017, lot 358 which realised

187,500 and most recently Sotheby's London, Style: Private Collections, 12th November 2019 which sold for £125,000. (all prices include buyer's premium).