Table with pine carcase and scagliola top and legs, decorated with a crown imperial in a pot, with cornucopiae, birds and butterflies; the legs are decorated in imitation of Siena marble

Table with rectangular top of limestone, covered with scagliola showing a formal and symmetrical design centreing on a vase of Persian form containing a crown imperial with other flowers, the corners filled with paired cornucopiaespilling lemons, pears, apples and turnips, with wheat ears and cherries, the pairs tied with red and white ribbon, the ground of the table also showing four birds.

The four legs, frame and stretcher of pine, oak and beech, covered in scagliola, the legs imitating Siena marble, the frame showing flowers in baskets and 16-point compass stars, the x-form stretcher with panels showing flowers against a black ground, the centre marked with a butterfly.

This table came from Warwick Castle where it was recorded in the Green Drawing Room. It may have been acquired by Francis, 1st Earl of Warwick (1719-1773), for in 1757 Dr Richard Pococke recorded that 'there are some beautiful marble tables in the castle brought from Italy by the present Earl'. However, it is not mentioned in the 1815 description of the contents of the castle, and as Henry 3rd Earl of Warwick (1816-1853), bought a sixteenth century pietra dura Florentine table from the Grimani Palace in Venice, the scagliola table may have been acquired in the 19th century.

The table was sold by Christie's, King Street on 21 March 1968, lot 116, amongst a number of pieces sold by the Trustees of the Warwick Castle Settlement (lots 94-128). It was described as 'A RARE 17TH CENTURY SCAGLIOLA SIDE TABLE' and identified as 'Anglo-Dutch, third quarter of the 17th century'. This identification was accepted by the V&A when it was first acquired

It was purchased from Mallett & Co in 1968. RP 68/3420

Historical significance: Scagliola was made in imitation of the costly pietra dura produced in the leading European Court workshops.
Examples of scagliola have been found in classical Roman decoration but it was revived in 16th century Italy and developed there in the 17th century by the master mason Guido del Conte (1584-1649). There is evidence that scagliola was being imitated in Northern Europe by the 17th century. The earliest dated use of scagliola in England, ca.1673 -1675, is in the Queen's Closet at Ham House, Surrey, where black panels inlaid with naively rendered flowers and birds and green foliage ornament are used as a surround to the fireplace and the hearth stone is decorated with the Duke of Lauderdale's cypher and coronet. A set of candlestands, mirror frame and table incorporating the arms of the 2nd Earl of Peterborough, at Drayton House, Northamptonshire have, like the scagliola fire surround at Ham House have recently been attributed to Baldassare Artima, an Italian plasterer recorded as making a 'Chimney piece with a frame wrought out of stuccoe' for Whitehall Palace in 1686 (Wren Society, VII, p.116)
The design of this table top is much less sophisticated than contemporary Italian productions. Yet this table is the only example where the decorations of the top and the supporting structure are so closely integrated. Clearly it was the product of an important workshop, actively experimenting in the newly imported technique.

Possibly made in England, although it may have been acquired by Henry, 3rd Earl of Warwick (1816-1853) in Italy. If it was made in England in the late 17th century, it is probably the work of an Italian craftsman. The stretcher is very similar in form to that of a seventeenth century Flemish table in the V&A's collection (W.7-1965), suggesting that the table may have been constructed by a Flemish craftsman.

This table is a rare example of 17th century furniture decorated in scagliola. This is a mixture of different-coloured pastes, which look like marbles when dried and polished. Italian workshops revived this ancient technique in the 16th century. The earliest known use in England was in 1669, when a monument to Lord Poulett in scagliola was erected in the St George's church, Hinton St. George, Somerset. This is attributed to Baldassare Artima, who also probably made our table. A small group of pieces of English furniture with similar scagliola decoration, made between about 1673 and 1686 seems to be the work of Baldassare Artima, possibly working with Diacinto Cawcy.
A wealthy patron would have commissioned this table for display rather than practical use. It may have stood between the windows of a grand reception room, flanked by matching candlestands. This scagliola table retains most of its original bright colours, unlike marquetry tables of the same form made about 1670-1700.

W.12:1, 2-1968