Pier table of black-japanned birchwood, with gilt decoration, raised on four cabriole legs with eagle-clawed feet, the shaped slab of green-painted softwood, imitating marble. Probably German, 1760-70.

A pier table of japanned and gilded wood (possibly birch), with four cabriole legs rising from eagle-clawed feet clutching rounded pads, supporting a shallow frieze with outset corners, beneath a slab of green-painted softwood imitating marble, with similarly outset corners. The legs are decorated with gilded framing fillets and the outer edges of the legs with gilded carved decoration of formal foliage. The frieze is set with panels of chinoiseries decoration in raised japanning in red and gold, alternated with gilded, carved stars, set at the corners and in the centre of the front of the frieze. The frieze is framed by a bead and reel gilded ornament on the lower edge and with a gilded egg-and-dart motif along the top edge. A pierced and carved apron hangs below the frieze on the sides and front, that at the front centreing on addorsed scrolls set with flower heads and bound together below a trio of leaves, with bell flower swags running from the flower heads and tied with ribbons at each side to the outer scroll running in from the leg to the apron.

Purchased from J. Charbonnier, Lynmouth Art Gallery, Devon (Registered file 14/1676). At the time of purchase it was believed to be English, dating from the first half of the eighteenth century. The tope was described at that time as 'imitation marble'.

The table has been on loan to Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley, since 1974.

This table illustrates the 'drift' in furnishing fashions that can combine elements from different styles. The S-scrolled, ‘cabriole’ legs were fashionable from the 1720s to the 1760 but the formal flower heads on the front apron derive from neo-classical ornament that only entered fashionable design after about 1760. Such black and gold japanned decoration was first developed in the 1680s to imitate imported Asian lacquer. It remained fashionable on and off throughout the 18th century and was in demand again in the Regency period and again in the mid-19th century.

Although the table was purchased as English, we now think that it is likely to have been made in one of the German states. The strong contrast between japanning and gilding is much more often seen in German furniture than English. The construction wood appears to be birch. If this were to be proved by analysis, it would be another indicator of German origin.

On loan to Cliffe Castle Museum.

W.38:1 to 2-1914