Description:

Rare and Important American Chippendale Mahogany China Table, Eastern Virginia, Tidewater Region, 1760-1775, possibly workshop of Anthony Hay (Williamsburg, c. 1700-1775), white pine secondary wood (by microanalysis), reticulated gallery, rectangular flame figured panel top, blocked and bead molded frieze, pierced brackets, four Marlborough legs, each with ogee molded panel with distinctive wave terminal, gutta feet, h. 29 in., w. 31 1/2 in., d. 20 1/8 in. NOTE: Virginia scholar Wallace Gussler describes “six notable china tables” from the workshop of Anthony Hay (Williamsburg, 1700-1775) in his seminal 1989 article “The Tea Tables of Eastern Virginia.” The lot offered here is an important discovery of a seventh Hay table in this group which includes a table owned by George Washington at Mount Vernon and a table descended in the Lewis and Byrd families now at the National Museum in Washington. The elegant and restrained style of this rare china table is indicative of the late colonial southern coast cabinetmakers like Hay. A rare surviving item from the region and period, this table displays distinctive designs on its gallery, brackets, legs and feet as well as retention of much of its old surface. Variations on the distinctive leg design on this lot are seen on three other tables attributed to the Hay workshop. An Anthony Hay urn stand from the DuPont collection at Winterthur (acc. 1952.0063) has brackets, strait legs with ogee panel and guttae feet very similar for those seen here. Interestingly, the Winterthur table lacks the original gallery, and the gallery on the table offered here provides scholars a notion of gallery form. A 1775 pembroke table from the Janet Kimbrough collection has four chamfered corners on each leg similar to the interior chamfered corners on this table and similar guttae feet. Additionally, a marble top sideboard table attributed to Hay with frieze, legs and feet like those on the previous examples was sold by Neal Auction Company as lot 667 on February 19, 2005 and now displayed in the dining room at George Mason’s home, Gunston Hall, Lorton, Virginia. Lastly, the form and many carved details on this table suggest inspiration from Chippendale’s Director (3rd Edition, 1762), the publication most used by master American cabinetmakers. Plate No XXXIV illustrating a China Table and No XXXVI a Sideboard Table are particularly instructive. Fallon & Wilkinson stratification analysis report indicating intact very old surface and conservation report by Chris Swan available. Ref.: Wallace Gussler. “The Tea Tables of Eastern Virginia,” Magazine Antiques. May 1989, pp. 1242-1245 ; Urn stand – Truths of the Trade: Slavery and the Winterthur Collection ; Furniture - Stand (Urn stand) - Search the Collection - Winterthur Museum ; Inside Gunston Hall - George Mason's Gunston Hall ;; The gentleman and cabinet-maker's director (si.edu)

  • Literature: https://issuu.com/nealauction/docs/lot_335_-_rare_virginia_18th_c._china_table?fr=sMzFjMjY0MzMzNzc
  • Circa: 1760-1775
  • Notes: http://museumcollection.winterthur.org/single-record.php?resultsperpage=20&view=catalog&srchtype=advanced&hasImage=&ObjObjectName=&CreOrigin=&Earliest=&Latest=&CreCreatorLocal_tab=&materialsearch=&ObjObjectID=&ObjCategory=&DesMaterial_tab=&DesTechnique_tab=&AccCreditLineLocal=&CreMarkSignature=&recid=1952.0063&srchfld=ObjCategory&srchtxt=&id=1564&rownum=21521&version=100&src=results-imagelink-only
  • Condition: If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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November 16, 2023 1:00 PM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

Neal Auction Company

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
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$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $5,000
$50,000 $99,999 $10,000
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