Pier table
possibly Thomas Fentham (d.1808)
Category
Furniture
Date
1778 (the top) - circa 1778 (the base)
Materials
Kingwood, mother-of-pearl, glass, giltwood, softwood
Measurements
85 x 122 x 53 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1147095.1
Summary
A demi-lune pier table, one of a pair. The top encrusted with mother-of-pearl, by Elizabeth Ratcliffe (c.1735 - c.1810), beneath glass and within a border of kingwood, initialled and dated 1778. The giltwood base possibly by Thomas Fentham (d. 1808) of the Strand and matching NT 1147092.2, the stand for Ratcliffe's model of 'The Ruins of the Temple of the Sun at Palmyra'. The top decorated with a scene of Chinese landscapes within floral borders suspended from ribbon. Under glass and within a kingwood border. The base topped by an egg- and dart-carved moulding and a fluted frieze with applied foliate sprigs. The legs with upper round-section capital clad in leaves, a tapering square-section below, topped by a floral patera above sunken reserves with an applied entwined harebell garland. The feet waisted.
Full description
The undersides of these table tops are initialled and dated 'E.R. 1778' and were made by Elizabeth Ratcliffe (c. 1735-c.1810), companion to Dorothy Yorke (d. 1787) and a keen amateur artist, who made other encrusted or inlaid models and pieces of furniture at Erddig. One of them - a model of the 'Ruins of the Temple of the Sun at Palymra' - is in a case and on a stand which matches these table bases. These giltwood pieces are attributed to Thomas Fentham because he is known to have supplied other giltwood objects to the Yorkes at Erddig. The backing board of a giltwood-framed painting of Simon Yorke and his sister Eltheldred (NT 1149419) bears a label reading 'Bot of Thos Fentham / Frame Maker and Glass Grinder / the New Exchange Buildings Strand'. Fentham was a leading looking glass and picture frame-maker in the Strand.
Provenance
Given by Phillip Yorke III (1905-1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of top: E.R.1778
Makers and roles
possibly Thomas Fentham (d.1808), carver Elizabeth Ratcliffe (Chester c.1735 - Liverpool c.1810), maker possibly Thomas Fentham (d.1808), gilder