Unseen Gem

1st February 2026

This incredibly rare ‘elaborate, fantastical and exquisitely carved’ Elizabeth I oak draw leaf table, dating from the Golden Age of the English Renaissance, has been hidden from view for over fifty years.

“It is one of the best Elizabethan tables in the world. Listed in every single book on the subject, it has not been seen on the UK market since 1972. The Lambert table has been documented by all the leading authors and is included in a photograph of Duntreath Castle Library in 1898.” Paul Fitzsimmons, early English oak specialist and historian.

Bearing the crest of the Lambert family, Yorkshire, this ornate table was probably commissioned by John Lambert (1522-1593), of Calton-in-Craven, Yorkshire in the late 16^th century, serving as the ultimate expression of prosperity, power and lineage. In its original setting, the table would undoubtedly have formed the centrepiece of the domestic household, intended for hosting lavish banquets and offering rich hospitality.

During Elizabeth I’s reign, furniture design absorbed Dutch, Flemish and Italian Renaissance influences, leading to the use of heavier proportions, decorative carving, and functional, innovative extendable tops. The Lambert example showcases the best of 16^th century Renaissance craftsmanship with all four table legs beautifully carved in the form of highly decorated sphinx sejant beneath richly decorated frieze rails. The innovative draw-leaf mechanism (where leaves are stored under the top and pulled out and raised as needed) made the table versatile for grand Elizabethan entertaining and feasting for varying numbers.

The design and form of the Lambert table strongly resemble the famous so-called ‘Sea-Dog Table’ of Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire (NT. 1127744), circa 1570. Furniture designs published around 1560 by Jacques Androuet du Cereau (1515 - 1584) show a page of sphinx and chimera-like creatures, both similar to the designs on the Sea-Dog and Lambert table. Formerly owned by Sir Archibald Edmonstone, 5th Baronet (1867-1954), Duntreath Castle, Strathblane, nr. Glasgow, the Lambert table was photographed in-situ in the library of the castle in 1898.

Consigned by Paul Fitzsimmons of Marhamchurch Antiques, the extensively documented Lambert table is just one highlight of the 700 lot; ‘Paul Fitzsimmons - A Life in Oak’ auction on 10^th and 11^th March 2026. Paul is one of the foremost early English oak specialists in the UK, with over 30 years of experience in the trade.

Surviving Elizabethan draw-leaf tables are exceptionally rare with many later altered, cut down or replaced as fashions changed in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Lambert table carries a pre-sale estimate of £100,000-£150,000 (before auction fees).
*Full details of the two-day sale will be available on our website soon.