Side table
possibly Henry Flitcroft (1697 - 1769)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1730 - circa 1740
Materials
Giltwood, gesso, marble, pine
Measurements
93.5 x 166.5 x 100 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Wimpole, Cambridgeshire
NT 207080
Summary
A carved giltwood and marble-topped side or end table, used as an altar table in the Chapel at Wimpole Hall, English, circa 1730 - 1740. Topped by a slab of grey-veined white marble (possibly replaced but photographed on the table in 1908). The base of four cherub-headed legs modeled as lion's legs and terminating in a naturalistic paw foot, and carved to the upper part with leafy acanthus. The friezes solid, the ground hatched with lozenges, and with a raised and moulded bottom edge. The front frieze centred by the mask and wings of another cherub above a spray of flowers and leaves. The side friezes with pendant shells. --
Full description
This extremely fine table stands as the altar table in the Chapel at Wimpole Hall. The room was designed by James Gibbs (1682 - 1754) and painted by the celebrated Sir James Thornhill (1676 - 1734). The painting of the chapel was complete by 1724. Traditionally, this table dates to the next phase of alterations at Wimpole Hall undertaken by the architect Henry Flitcroft (1697 - 1769) and is attributed to him as its designer. However, this attribution is slightly problematic because the table - with unpierced friezes and extremely bold cherub masks - does not conform to other tables known to have been made to his designs, which tend to be lighter and more feminine in their proportions and decoration. The tables made by Benjamin Goodison (d. 1767) are of similar proportions.
Provenance
In the chapel commissioned by Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford (1689 - 1741) but if after a design by Henry Flitcroft (1697 - 1769) possibly acquired by Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke (1690 - 1764). Photographed in the Chapel in Country Life in 1908, 1927 and 1967 when flanked by the torchere stands. The hall and contents were bequeathed to the National Trust in 1976 by Elsie Bambridge (1896 - 1976).
Makers and roles
possibly Henry Flitcroft (1697 - 1769) , designer
References
'Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire, A Seat of Viscount Clifden', Country Life Vol. XXIII, No. 580, 15th February 1908, 234 - 241, 241 Hussey, 1927: Christopher Hussey. “Wimpole Hall I, Cambridgeshire: the seat of the Hon. Gerald Agar-Robartes.” Country Life 21 May 1927: pp.806-13., 810, Figure 11 and 811, Figure 13 Hussey, 1967: Christopher Hussey. “Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire - II” Country Life 7 December 1967, 1466 - 1471, 1467, Figure 3