Loveday Antiques Ltd

Description

A Fine Burl Amboyna and Marquetry Centre Table Attributed to George Blake and Co and Probably Retailed by Edward Holmes Baldock

English London made Circa 1845.

An exceptional table of wonderful colour, utilising the finest amboyna veneers as a background for a complex pattern of floral marquetry on the stem, feet and table top.

The tilt-top with segmented veneers and central floral inlay within an inlaid floral scroll surround and with a conforming inlaid outer border. The triform pedestal base with foliate inlay, carved leaf scroll feet with carved lateral flower head roundels with recessed castors.

The basic design for this table comes from the work of the designer Richard Bridgens and was published in 1838 as plate 16 in his Furniture with Candelabra.

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As can be seen from the image of Bridgens' design, the outer scrolling border on the top of our table is very much in the style of that suggested in the design but the other marquetry is of a sophisticated floral type popularised slightly later, suggesting a date of c.1845 for our table. Marquetry of this sort was a speciality of the Blake family, marquetry experts and associates of the great dealer Edward Holmes Baldock. Baldock was responsible for building some museum quality collections of fine 18th century French furniture during this period for some of his famous aristocratic clients but he also supplied new furniture in the French taste, often incorporating marquetry by the Blake firm. The use of exotic amboyna as the ground for this marquetry is also in keeping with other pieces known to have been supplied by Baldock, for whom it appears only the best was good enough.

The sinuous lines of this table and the exotic veneers give the piece a more timeless feel than many other examples from this period and the colour means that it would work equally well in a contemporary interior or alongside pieces of Art Deco furniture as it would in a more traditional room. This is a piece of sublime quality that somehow manages to be both decorative and yet understated and as such is exactly the sort of piece we enjoy sharing with our clients.

Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845)
Born on the 14th May 1777 he established his business in 1805 in Hanway Street which over the years he expanded at this location. He soon was a prominent London furniture dealer to several members of the Royal Family and is responsible for supplying French-fashioned furniture to the 5th Duke of Buccleuch.

Edwards Holmes Baldock’s pieces have become a prized possession amongst collectors, museums and dealers alike. The use of a variety of specimen woods can often been seen on attributed and signed tables by Edward Holmes Baldock, reminiscent of those on the present table. Baldock was thought to have worked very closely to with the master of marquetry and inlay of the 19th Century Robert Blake who had workshops adjacent to Baldock’s retail premises.

Pieces in public collections with likely links to the Blake Family include a piano in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a writing desk in Goodwood House, a centre table in Syon House, a circular table in Alnwick Castle, an octagonal table in the Leeds City Art Gallery at Temple Newsam House and also signed works in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Baldock's works often imitated the important pieces of 18th-century French furniture that Francophile collectors including George, Prince of Wales, later George IV, William Beckford, Francis Seymour Conway, 3rd Marquess of Hertford and George Watson-Taylor collected at the beginning of the 19th century.

A wonderful centre table of exhibition quality having fine colour an patina, ideally for the connoisseur collector.

Loveday Antiques is a family run business originally established since 1969 in London. Now in its second generation, Loveday Antiques specialises in an eclectic mix of 18th to 20th Century European furniture and works of art, with a strong emphasis on quality, uniqueness and colour.

As proud members of LAPADA, the largest association for professional art and antique dealers in the United Kingdom and members of CINOA, the worldwide association for antique dealers you can buy from us with 100% confidence and reassurance as we are committed to upholding and abiding by the strict standards of each association.
Our clients can rest assured that each item is as described and photographed.

All Items are sold with 100% satisfaction 14 day money back guarantee, return delivery will be charged for.

FREE UK MAINLAND SHIPPING INCLUDED WITHIN THE PRICE.
(possible surcharge for remote areas of Wales and Scotland)

Delivery within the mainland UK will usually be with 7 to 14 days but please allow up to 28 days. We also ship worldwide with a professional bespoke crating service and large International couriers via air and sea to almost all locations. Please contact us at Loveday Antiques with your full postal address for a very competitive quote.

GOODS
All items listed are in excellent condition having been restored using traditional methods by experienced cabinet makers and polishers keeping the original colour and patina wherever possible.
Please bear in mind you may find the usual markings with antique furniture that are commensurate with age which all add to beauty and uniqueness of the item.

VIEWINGS
We have a reputation for being long established antique dealers in London having had showrooms concurrently running in Islington, Chelsea and Ascot. We have relocated our new showroom, due to London overheads, easily reached between A1 or A10 to just outside of Hertford, Hertfordshire.
We will happily arrange for clients to be collected travelling via train. Local stations being Hertford North, Stevenage and Ware, all being a 10 minute drive from us.

Please contact us for location and appointments.

Telephone 01438 869 819

Email info@lovedayantiques.co.uk

Payments accepted are Bank Transfer, Cheque, Major Credit Cards or Cash.

Opening Times
Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.30pm Please email or call beforehand to make an appointment.
If outside of these times again please call to make an appointment

We have more than 40 years experience in supplying Antique furniture to the trade, public and interior designers from all parts of the world so please buy with confidence as we have passed the test of time.