The painted blue rectangular box with a decoupage lid of a scene entitled “Chain Pier and Marine Parade, Brighton” opening to reveal a fitted sewing box with original furniture, the lid depicting a scene of the View of the West front of the Brighton Pavilion. The front of the box is decorated with two further scenes of Brighton, one either side of a keyhole all scenes being framed by black and white painted borders, the sides supporting central brass coloured handles. Provenance: Given by George IV to the King of Hanover and by descent to Ernst Prince of Hanover.

A Regency nest of three tables in Pollard Oak with Laburnum Cross Banding Circa 1820

The burr figured and quarter-veneered top with egg and dart moulded edge and burr veneered frieze with moulded lip above a spreading hexagonal pillar with central gaitered banding and ogee moulded collar below, on a triform platform base with rounded terminals and gadrooned bun feet with recessed castors, the base stamped GILLOWS on the upper tenon.

Provenance:

Usher family, Scotland. 

Probably made for Andrew Usher, Founder of the famous whisky distilling and blending company of Andrew Usher and Co, either for their Edinburgh house at Randolph Cliff or for their country house Culachy and then by descent.

 

The rectangular top inset with various square marbles including sienna, sarrancolin, brocatello, portoro and others and centred by a panel depicting a parrot perched on a branch, the edge with egg-and-dart moulding, on a tapering fluted and lotus-leaf carved shaft with foliate collar, the concave-sided base with a beaded edge and rosette and line inlay, on foliate and S-scroll feet with inset castors.

Designs for tables such as this were widely popularised in the first half of the 19th century in publications including George Smith's A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808, and his Cabinet-Maker's and Upholsterer's Guide, 1826 but this particularly elaborate example relates closely to the work of the Scottish cabinet-maker and upholsterer William Trotter (d.1833). Initially entering his father's employment around 1790, Trotter became sole proprietor of the thriving business in 1809, and in 1814-15 he undertook a major commission to furnish the library and picture-gallery at Paxton House, Berwickshire. His work was characterised by the use of fine quality materials, bold carving and the occasional use of brass inlay, and he was always acutely aware of his customers' expectations. At Paxton in particular he created a number of pieces specifically intended to display marble tablets collected by George Home on a Grand Tour in the 1770's, and in his letter accompanying his initial estimate for the work he wrote 'I mean them all of solid rose wood- and would wish as much carving upon them as possible'. (Sebastian Pryke, 'Paxton House, Berwickshire - II', Country Life, 6 May, 1993, p.62).

A REGENCY GLASS AND VERRE EGLOMISE, Circa 1810Attributed to Thomas FenthamThe central oval glass is surmounted by four black and gold verre eglomise panels of leaves and flowers surrounded by a cream and gold verre eglomise border of leaves and flowers.  The central panel is flanked on the sides and the top by panels of glass surrounded by a border of cream and gold verre eglomise border.  An eagle rests on a platform over the top panel and has chains and balls coming from his beak which are connected to urns on either side of the columns, dividing the central panel from the side panels.  The urns sit on the top of the curved cornice which is decorated with balls.
This mirror can securely be attributed to Thomas Fentham (1774-1825) carver, guilder, glass grinder and picture frame maker who occupied various addresses in the Strand.  See reference Marked London Furniture 1700-1840 Pictorial Dictionary by Christopher Gilbert, Page 28 and illustrations nos. 336-348.