Centre table, giltwood and verre églomisé, 1700-1730.

A George I giltwood centre table with square, cabriole legs with a verre églomisé bevelled mirror panel set into the top. The reverse of the mirror is blackened and incised and gilded with a scalloped cartouche displaying the entwined and confronted RW cypher, for Roberet Walpole, enwreathed by acanthus flowers set in the spandrels. The four broad scallops or C scrolls surrounding the initials are tied at the top, base and sides by outward splayed acanthus while looped ribbons unite the letters. The moulded frame is indented at the centre of the front and sides, and is raised on cabriole tapering legs, which are carved on the angles with festoons of acanthus. Each has an outer edge that is raised with acanthus buds looped in festoons from the top and three at the base.

Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum

This table has been at Houghton Hall since at least 1745
It was recorded in the 1745 inventory, taken on the death of Sir Robert Walpole, in the Van Dyke (Tapestry) Dressing Room, as 'one glass table'.
It was listed in the 1792 inventory taken on the death of Sir Robert's grandson, the 3rd Earl of Orford, in a Dressing Room as "A handsome Pier Table with looking glass reflecting Top ornamented with a Cypher gilt frame and leather cover". The Bedchamber to this Dressing Room contained the embroidered state bed ornamented with the Orford Arms.
(See Tessa Murdoch. Eighteenth Century Inventories p.191)

The monogram on the table top had at one time been interpreted as a reference to Sir Robert and his wife (Katherine, although her name was normally spelt Catherine), and later believed to refer to Robert Walpole Knight. If so it would have to date to about 1725 when he was made Knight of the Bath or, 1726 when he was made a Knight of the Garter. However, the table decoration does not bear any of the traditional Garter emblems or the motto of the Order, as does a larger gilt and carved console table in the Saloon, with a pendant under the frame of Sir Robert's crest encircled by the Garter ribbon, which makes the above attributions questionable.
The foundation stone for Houghton was laid in 1722 and the house took over ten years to complete. It is more likely to have come from one of Walpole's London houses, Arlington Street in Piccadilly or Orford House in Chelsea.

The table is illustrated in Percy Macquoid's 'The Age of Mahogany' 1906 (Figs. 24 and 25) where it is stated that it was formerly Walpole's dressing-table and was always used as such at Houghton.

The table was permanently allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum as 'in lieu in situ'(in lieu of inheritance tax but to remain at Houghton) in 2012 to be shown with other material from Houghton previously accepted in lieu in situ in 2002 and permanently allocated to the Museum to remain on display at Houghton.

There is one other known table with a monogrammed glass top at Erdigg (National Trust NT1146972) described as "silver table with a glass and coat of arms cut in it" The arms are those of John Meller, a London draper. That table is silvered and was made by John Belchier for Erdigg in Denbighshire on 6 June 1726 at a cost of £14.
(See: Ralph Edwards and Margaret Jourdain 'Georgian Cabinet-Makers c.1700-1800', London 1944 p.43 and Fig.31
Bowett, Adam.' Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740' Antique Collectors Club. 2009 pp 210-11)

A George I giltwood centre table with square, cabriole legs and a table top which consists of a moulded border inset with a bevelled mirror panel. The surface incorporates verre églomisé gilt decoration. At the centre is an interlaced monogram RKW (Robert Walpole) which sits within an oval of C-scrolls.

This table has been at Houghton Hall since at least 1745, when it was in the Tapestry Dressing Room. At some point after this date it was moved to the Embroidered Bedchamber.

On loan to Houghton Hall.

W.2-2012