A GEORGE II MAHOGANY SIDE TABLE

This mahogany side table is in the manner of the joiner and cabinet-maker, Benjamin Crook Snr. (1732-50). Crook is known for his aesthetically plain furniture with minimal but crisp carving. Exceptionally, he labelled his furniture; a copy of his distinctive printed circular trade label is in the British Museum (Heal, 28.51). The four known labelled pieces are all of excellent quality (C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 24, 167-169 and figs. 262-266). This table with its cabriole legs carved with shells and pendant husks and claw-and-ball feet relates to a walnut card table with Crook’s trade label pasted into the frieze drawer, formerly in the Percival Griffiths Collection (ibid., fig. 265; sold Christie's, London, 10 May 1939, lot 202, and later, 15 April 1999, lot 107 (£56,500 inc. premium).

Crook is recorded at ‘The George & White Lyon’, on the south side of St Paul's Churchyard, London, from 1732 until 1748 when, following his retirement, he advertised an auction of his stock-in-trade. The long list of goods to be sold included a wide range of 'Cabinet Work in Mahogany and Walnut Tree', chairs, tables, mirrors, tea-boards and tea-caddies. His son, also called Benjamin, continued the business at the same address until 1771.