AN IMPORTANT GEORGE II WHITE PAINTED TABLE, WITH VENEERED ONYX MARBLE TOP, FROM CLIVEDEN HOUSE
THE SHARPNESS OF THE CARVING ON THIS EXCEPTIONAL TABLE HAS BEEN PRESERVED BENEATH SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF GESSO APPLIED IN THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES. THESE ACCRETIONS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY REMOVED, REVEALING THE ORIGINAL PAINTED SURFACE BELOW. THE ASSURED VITALITY OF THE CARVING—EVIDENT IN THE TABLE’S OVERALL CONCEPTION AS WELL AS IN CLOSELY OBSERVED DETAILS SUCH AS THE GROWTH RINGS AND DYNAMIC MOVEMENT OF THE CENTRAL SHELL, AND THE LIFELIKE HANDLING OF THE LION MASK—SUGGESTS THE HAND OF A LEADING LONDON CARVER, POSSIBLY WILLIAM HALLETT.
THE THICKLY SET, VENEERED ONYX MARBLE TOP (MOST LIKELY COMPRISED OF ANCIENT VENEERS OF ‘ALABASTER A TARTARUGA’ OR ‘ALABASTRO DI BUSCA’) HAS A GRACEFUL ELEGANCE, SHOWING CLASTS AND VEINS OF TOBACCO AND OCHRE-COLOURED TONES.
PROVENANCE: FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE ASTOR FAMILY, HAILING DIRECTLY FROM CLIVEDEN HOUSE. CLEARLY CATALOGUED IN TWO CLIVEDEN INVENTORIES FROM 1948 IN THE EARL CANNING ROOM (WHICH STILL EXISTS), AND FROM 1966 IN THE DRAWING ROOM (NOW RECONFIGURED). THIS FAMOUS HOUSE WAS DONATED TO THE NATIONAL TRUST IN 1942 BY LORD ASTOR'S FATHER, WITH AN ENDOWMENT OF £250,000 AND WITH THE PROVISO THAT THE FAMILY COULD CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE FOR AS LONG AS THEY WISHED. THE ASTORS CEASED TO LIVE AT CLIVEDEN IN 1968, SHORTLY AFTER THE PROFUMO AFFAIR AND BILL ASTOR'S DEATH.
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