Chinese Chippendale Mahogany Console Table

This English mahogany console table is a rare period example of the elaborate Chinese Chippendale style. A study in symmetry and balance, this table combines the restrained elegance of the Georgian period with the intricate artistry of the Orientalist aesthetic. Elaborate fretwork on the frieze and pierced supports are beautifully matched by fluted legs. As a whole, it represents a stunning marriage of Chippendale craftsmanship and Eastern design.

Small, decorative tables such as this represented the great influence that China had in European decorative and fine art beginning in the 1600s. Since the Restoration of the monarchy, there had been a growing interest in Chinese-style design forms in England. Called "chinoiserie" in French, this style had become extremely popular by the middle of the 18th century, and designers such as Thomas Chippendale eagerly adopted the elaborate Eastern designs. By the mid-1750s, the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were sporting "Chinese Pavilions and Boxes" and several design books, including Chippendale’s The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, featured a number of Chinese designs.

Circa 1780

47" wide x 21 1/4" deep x 31 1/8" high