Anyone for Cards…..?

Fashions in furniture changed constantly throughout the 18th century, and there are certain pieces of furniture that particularly demonstrated these changing trends. Card tables in particular are a very good example. All of the major 18th century design books include examples of card tables and the plenty of them survive to this day. We are …

The Auspicious Nature of Red and Gold

With Chinese New Year fast approaching (February the 12th), it seems appropriate to study pieces in our collection with links to the Far East through their use of the auspicious colours red and gold/yellow. These colours are particularly linked to the New Year celebrations - and we are used to seeing lanterns decorated in these …

“Lion” Mahogany

The title of this posting is taken from a Country Life article published on the 10th of June 1911. For many of the great collectors of English furniture, beginning during the early to mid 20thcentury, the most desirable pieces have always been items with carved lions' masks and hairy pawor claw and ball feet. These …

The Allure of Colour and Patina

When assessing the suitability of pieces of antique furniture for their collections, it is very common to hear connoisseurs and collectors talking about the colour and patination of pieces they are considering and, in thispost, we hope to be able to explain these concepts in a little more detail. Firstly, it is important to differentiate …

Chippendale and his Director

First issued in 1754, Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director was both the first and most influential English furniture design book of the 18th century. Although it is impossible to ascertain how many of the designs contained within the Director were in fact created by Chippendale himself and how many were re-workings of pre-existing …

Chinese Export Furniture & Works of Art

Broadly speaking, Chinese export furniture can be divided into two distinct categories. Those pieces made to conform to a Westernised concept of the Chinese style and those made after Western prototypes-often only distinguishable from their European equivalents because of differences in construction and the use of peculiarly Chinese timbers. The English fascination with the orient …

A Matter of Provenance

An extraordinary and highly important pair of William III - Queen Anne side chairs have recently arrived in the gallery. Dating to the turn of the century, circa 1700, and attributed to Philip Guibert, these magnificent chairs boast a very full provenance: it is fascinating to trace their history. The provenance reads: Almost certainly originally …

A Trick of the Eye

Tromple-l'oeil or 'Deceive the Eye' is an artistic technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions. Painters throughout the ages have used this technique to trick their viewers. In architecture, the comparable illusion is known as forced perspective. However, it was not only artists and …

Shades of Autumn

As summer turns to autumn and the leaves begin to change colour and fall, one of our most recent arrivals in the gallery seems particularly appropriate. We are delighted to be able to offer this outstanding George I walnut and needlepoint settee. Not only a superb example of early Georgian walnut furniture, this settee also …

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

It is the last day of August, and it feels like an appropriate time to say 'goodbye' to summer. This image of the top of our rare George I gilt gesso card table features a magnificent flower head surrounded by acanthus leaves and other flowering foliage - the epitome of summer! This summer we have …