Furniture

George I mahogany games table, 18th century. With a rectangular over hanging top with turret corners, a frieze drawer, cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The back left leg swings out ...

A fine French Napoleon III Second Empire Period (1852-1870) fliptop card game table. Make a statement with this striking example of high-quality Parisian craftsmanship. Exquisitel...

George III mahogany demi lune games table, circa 1800. With a demi lune top with molded edges, demi lune shaped mahogany frieze, front legs with patera inlay at top of legs, legs are...

William IV figural walnut demilune table opening with sliding leg to circular baize inlaid and walnut bordered games table, raised on four square fluted legs set into apron and mount...

A good George II period mahogany card table, the shaped top over carved cabriole legs ending in hairy paw feet. The top, when opened, retains an old baize cover with 4 wells for mark...

George III inlaid mahogany games table, late 18th century, the flip top above the apron with geometric inlay with gate-leg action in the rear. In very good vintage condition. Deale...

With rectangular top with drop leaves and sliding game board opening to a backgammon surface over a false and working drawers, raised on square tapered legs. Casters.

A period William IV English mahogany sewing stand work table with inlaid chessboard top. circa 1830s Combining sophisticated elegance, warmth, and functional design, this outstandin...

Antique George III style mahogany games / center / side table, 19th century. With a circular top, a frieze with one drawer with brass hardware, resting on square tapered legs ending ...

A luxurious array of rare marbles and hard stones are inset into the playing surface of this William IV-period chess table. The visually appealing arrangement incorporates specimens ...

A substantial George II style square walnut card table with beautifully carved grotesque masks to the shoulders of the cabriole legs set on realistically carved lions paw feet. Inset tooled tan leather top with brass cup holders...

An unusual George IV specimen marble backgammon table attributed to Gillows. This rectangular table is strongly attributed to Gillows. It has a rectangular top inlaid with a central chess board flanked by two backgammon fields, all inlaid with a multitude of specimen marbles. One edge carved and gilded with the Latin motto ‘Turpe est in patria vivere et patriam ignorare’. The oak base has a drawer for cards and playing pieces, all raised on a square section support with four splayed legs and the original brass castors. English, circa 1830. Provenance: Geoffrey Bennison Ltd, London, November 1983 The Mermaid House Collection, St. John’s Wood, London Property of a gentleman Private American collection The form of the base of this table is related to several known Gillows commissions from the late Regency period and the quality of the cabinet work also suggests that firm attribution to the firm. Backgammon tables, rather than more general games tables, are unusual at this date and the use of inlaid specimen marbles in the top suggests a client of wealth. Additionally, the Latin text on the edge of the table provides further clues. The text, Turpe est in patria vivere et patriam ignorare, translates as “it is shameful to live in your homeland and not know it”. This phrase dates back to antiquity but rose to prominence once again in the mid-18th century when used by the botanist and key Enlightenment figure Carl Linnaeus in his work on the native flora of Sweden. The combination of this phrase and the use of native English timbers and marbles is promoting English raw materials and craftsmanship at a time when the noble and the wealthy were focussed on European pietra dura tables. Mermaid House in St John’s Wood was re-designed by Chester Jones...