AN ITALIAN ALABASTRO FIORITO MARBLE TOP

When this table was acquired, it was thought to date from irca 1735 and the idiosyncratic carving placed it close stylistically to the work of William Bradshaw. Bradshaw is perhaps best known for his work for the 2nd Earl Stanhope at Chevening, Kent and parallels were drawn between the unusual 'design of a double C-scroll with smaller 'C' inside, the longer ending in a strong curl at the upper end', as well as 'the acanthus leaves to the knees tied in the middle with what appears to be a clasp ' - which is shared between this table and a gilt side table at Chevening illustrated in R. Edwards and M. Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet Makers, London, 1955, pl.54.