An Early 19th Century Regency Period Occasional Table

A fine early 18th century ebonised and parcel gilded occasional table, the rectangular japanned top with canted corners above a reeded frieze, supported upon four fluted tapering legs, with lower concave shelf and terminating in hairy paw feet.

In the manner of Thomas Hope
(1769-1831)

Thomas Hope undertook an extensive Grand Tour throughout Europe, Greece, the Mediterranean and Egypt. This inspired his devotion to antiquity and his writings and designs became an established source for early 19th century interiors. Hope was determined to reform all contemporary taste including interior decoration and furniture by returning architecture and the arts to the spirit of classical purity.

A hallmark of Thomas Hope’s furniture design was sharpness of form and robust stylised animal heads and heavily carved hairy paw feet in carved gilded wood. Much of his furniture was ebonised and parcel gilded as with this example by an unknown follower.