Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks - 30th March 2022
Lot 129
A GEORGE II MAHOGANY HARLEQUIN TABLE
Estimate £800 - £1,200 | Hammer £900
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Description
A GEORGE II MAHOGANY HARLEQUIN TABLE
IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS POTTER, C.1740
the crossbanded hinged fold-over top revealing an interior, with a rising cartonnier fitted with pigeonholes and drawers, the interior probably originally with a lined writing surface, on lappet carved legs and pad feet, on sunken leather roller castors
74.7cm high, 79.2cm wide, 41.3cm deep
Catalogue Note
The harlequin multi-purpose mechanical table was named after the master-of-disguises in the 18th Century Commedia dell'Arte theatre. A related design for a harlequin table of this form is included on the trade card of Thomas Potter (d.1782), cabinet-maker of High Holborn (now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, ref. no. E.2320-1889).
See Adam Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740, p.265, pl.5 for a similar example.