19th Century Centre Table in the manner of Thomas & George Seddon & Co
19th Century Centre Table in the manner of Thomas & George Seddon & Co
English
circa 1840 - 1850
Mid 19th Century Solid Walnut Floral Marquetry Centre Table
The circular top is made with various woods, amboyna, macassar ebony, ebony, holly, sycamore, boxwood and mahogany. The floral marquetry is exceptional and finely executed by the firm T & G Seddon. The firm in the 18th century were the largest furniture manufacture in the country and in the earliest part of the 19th century helped furnish apartments of Windsor Castle, under George IV's reign.
The top display of inlays retains the original colours (yes the original, dyes to the flowers, petals and insects). The marquetry depicts a bouquet of various flowers and foliage featuring fine worked butterflies. The table top has a mahogany base with the floral marquetry inlaid into amboyna veneers surrounded with open fret macassar ebony borders and table edge.
The table is raised on a solid tapered baluster shaped walnut fluted pedestal on an egg and dart circular collar above a triform plinth base. The solid walnut legs adorned with crisply carved acanthus leaf decoration to the knees above inverted 'C' scrolls that terminate on 'S' scrolled turned feet that stand on the original gilt brass castors.
Condition
Excellent, revived to its former glory.
Literature
After the death of George Seddon II in 1815 the firm of Seddons was run by his nephews, Thomas II (b. 1792 – d. 1864) and George III (b. 1797 – d. 1857); the sons of Thomas Seddon. Thomas was apprenticed to his uncle (1806-1813) and was made free of the Upholders' Company in 1815. George III completed his apprenticeship in 1817 and together they ran the family business until the 1850s. The name of the firm changed several times to reflect different partnerships and the exact date of changes is not always clear. Although the name of Seddon & Sons does appear in certain documentation after 1815, the firm under this name does not appear in contemporary directories as such. Little is known of the business between 1815 and 1826 when the brothers signed a prefatory recommendation to P. and M. A. Nicholson's Practical Cabinet Maker, 1826.
In 1827 George Seddon III went into partnership with Nicholas Morel, who had been chosen by King George IV as furniture maker in charge of re-furnishing Windsor Castle. Morel did not join the Seddon family firm. It was only George Seddon who initially went into partnership with Morel in 1827, although Thomas stood surety for his brother and Morel when they signed a bond with George IV for £10,500 in the same year, and Thomas joined the partnership in September 1830.
Thomas Seddon III (b.1821-d.1856) joined the family business in 1836 and in 1841 he travelled to Paris to study as a designer for a year. On his return he systematically set about trying to improve Seddon’s designs, attending a course in architecture taught by Professor Donaldson of University College. Thomas’s design for an ornamental sideboard won a prize at the Society of Arts in 1848.
Relevant Commissions
GOLDSMITHS HALL, LONDON In 1834-5 T & G Seddon were contracted to supply furniture for the new Goldsmith’s Hall, designed by Philip Hardwick. The commission was split between William & Charles Wilkinson, who furnished the Court Room, Court Drawing Room and Court Dining Room, and Seddons, who furnished the Livery Hall, Entrance Hall and Livery Tea Room. There is some evidence that Seddons were disappointed not to be given the whole job. A good deal of the furniture survives and is illustrated in Shrive, Furniture History (2019), figs 16-22.
ROYAL COMMISSIONS T. & G. Seddon, 1829–40: work at Brighton Pavilion; Belvedere, St James's Palace; Royal Lodge, Windsor; Kew Palace and Cumberland Lodge. Early work was mainly jobbing and repairs. Other work included: December 1832 (Brighton Pavilion) for Her Majesty's own use. A Spanish mahogany writing table £26 and September 1834 (Windsor, for corridor) 6 square framed scagliola thermes £78, December 1835. 8 wainscot sofas in ‘Elizabethan character’ very similar to specification for Thomas Turner December 1835) covered in crimson plush £374, 1839/40: Among bills for ‘Extra Expenses for the Accommodation of HRH The Prince Albert’ at Windsor prior to his marriage with Victoria is one for a 6’ maple 4–post bedstead with richly carved pillars and footboard and elaborately inlaid cornice and centre ornaments £124. March 1839: Suite of maple wood bookcases and cabinets inlaid with purple wood statuary £430. December 1840: A rich mahogany and gold cot and two mahogany wash handstands. Total £300.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, Prince Edward Island, Canada. 1835: Some of the furniture supplied by Seddon.
LABELLED FURNITURE
Butchoff antiques has a similar table
Published in “British Furniture 1820 to 1920” by Christopher Payne, 2023, p. 71 & 73, illustrated fig. 2.17a-c.
Dimensions
Height 76.00cm (29.92 inches)
Diameter 66.00cm (25.98 inches)
Stock No: 11758
£7,250.00
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