A PAIR OF GEORGE IV ELM AND BURR-ELM BREAKFAST TABLES

William Orde (d. 1842) engaged the distinguished Newcastle architect, John Dobson (1727-1865), to remodel and enlarge his newly acquired seat Nunnykirk, which was basically an early 18th-century house. Dobson was one of the most important architects from the North East of England. In addition to numerous country house projects, he was also responsible for the redevelopment of the Newcastle city center in the spirit of Nash's Metropolitan Improvements. For domestic architecture, Dobson was able to offer his clients both Greek Revival and Tudor Gothic styles. At Nunnykirk he used a French inspired neo-classical manner.
A feature of the interiors at Nunnykirk was the extensive and unusual use of burr-elm for the doors, doorcases, and paneling. These tables, which are also of burr-elm, were thus designed by Dobson as an integral part of the decorative scheme, a fact testified to by its architectural character. The only other surviving furniture thought to have been designed by Dobson survives at Lilburn Tower, and is in the Jacobean taste.
The Humble brothers George (1798-1878) and John (d. 1875), appear to have been highly successful cabinet-makers and furnishers, with a clientele spread much further than their native Roxburghshire. Their premises in Kelso are listed in 1825 at Roxburgh Street, and later at Brisbane Place, Crawford Street. Both brothers seem to have invested much of their fortunes in property. They were able to style themselves 'esquire' and live in the manner of gentlemen, after George bought the estate of Old Garden, while his brother John lived in Waverley Cottage, which had belonged to Sir Walter Scott's family, but which he greatly extended.