11555 - 19th Century games and sewing table by the renowned firm of Holland & Sons

Item Categories: Card, Game and Tea Tables, Furniture, New In Dublin, Tables

Item Page: https://osullivanantiques.com/item/11555-19th-century-games-and-sewing-table-by-the-renowned-firm-of-holland-sons/

Item Description

19th Century games and sewing table by the renowned firm of Holland & Sons. Known for its exceptionally fine craftsmanship and inventive use of exotic woods, the firm's establishment dates back to the early Regency period. In 1803 by William Holland and Stephen Taprell exercised their trade as ‘Cabinet makers &c.' under the name of Taprell & Holland. After Taprell's retirement the firm's name changed briefly to Holland & Sons in 1843 and, a few years later in 1846, to William Holland & Sons. The ‘Holland & Sons' stamp on the drawer in this games table dates the piece to between 1843 and 1846.

Holland & Sons received commissions from a roster of elite clients providing furniture for Queen Victoria's palaces, the Athenaeum Club, the British Museum, and the Royal Academy, amongst other illustrious persons and institutions.

The firm's finesse and originality is beautifully demonstrated by this very practical dual-purpose table that features elegant marquetry in a range of exotic woods including, for example, mahogany, satinwood, rosewood, burr walnut, and kingwood. The table-top, which pivots over an original red velvet lining, opens to reveal a superbly crafted games tables with alternating squares of rosewood and satinwood to accommodate chess or checkers pieces. A very neat little drawer with an eye-catching tigerwood and satinwood inlay in a diamond pattern sits below the table-top and is clearly stamped ‘Holland & Sons'. Below the drawer is a deep section that continues the tigerwood and satinwood pattern. The interior of this section contains a moveable insert for storing gaming pieces which can be pushed back to reveal a well for the storage of skeins of wool, silk threads for embroidery, etc. The diamond-pattern extends to the outer sides of the table supports which are joined by a beautifully turned stretcher.

It is not surprising that the furniture produced by Holland & Sons and William Holland and Sons was considered to be on a par with that produced by the famous Irish firm in the same period, Williams & Gibton.

Price on Request

Dimensions

• Height: 29.5” (75 cm)
• Width: 23” (58.5 cm)
• Depth: 16” (41 cm)

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