Desmond Shawe-Taylor and Wolf Burchard, The First Georgians: Art and Monarchy 1714-1760 (London: 2014)
Royal Collection Trust
Susan Weber, William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain (Yale: 2013). Fig 17.8/17.21 pp. 453-460
A George II carved and gilded console table, the original moulded and canted Breche Violetta marble top above a foliate-carved and fluted frieze raised on S-shaped scrolled legs carved with acanthus leaves, money pockets and scales, terminating in scrolled toes on moulded blocks.
Attribution
This important table can be attributed to William Kent and Benjamin Goodison. In form, construction and style the table is nearly identical to many documented commissions by Goodison, namely examples in the Royal Collection supplied by him to Frederick, Prince of Wales (b. 1707 – d. 1751), eldest son of George II and father of George III.
The tables in the Royal Collection attributed to Goodison feature a fluted frieze surmounted by a boarder of carved foliage and are constructed in walnut, oak and pine. These were almost certainly intended for use in the private apartments of George II or Frederick, Prince of Wales, as more expensive and prized gilded pieces such as the present example will have been on view in the State Rooms.
It is known that William Kent and Goodison worked on many projects together and the simple scrolled outline of the table’s legs and their carved elements derive firmly from classical sources, with which Kent was very familiar from his time in Italy and passion for the ancient world.
The scroll or console support used by Kent in his seat furniture and console tables was inspired directly by Roman Baroque Furniture, and his trademark fish scales, although more commonly seen on Italian silver, was also inspired by Italian furniture. These stylistic motifs are uniquely ‘Kentian’ in English furniture and similar examples of them and support designs can be seen at Chiswick House and Houghton Hall.
While the construction of the table can be attributed to Goodison, the bold design including the carved detail of acanthus, money pockets and scrolled legs can be confidently attributed to William Kent and his highly influential designs.