A pair of George II-style carved giltwood eagle console tables
late 19th/early 20th century, in the manner of William Kent,

each with a serpentine rouge marble top above an egg-and-dart moulded frieze, supported by an eagle with outspread wings, raised on a rockwork base and shaped faux marble plinth

(2)

132cm wide, 66cm deep, 88cm high

Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York, 29 September 1973, lot 60;
Angelo Donghia (1935-1985);
Christie's New York, 8 April 2004, lot 245;
Sotheby's New York, 'Hyde Park Antiques: Past, Present and Future Part I', 20-31 January 2023, lot 13.

Literature: Emily Eerdmans, 'Classic English Design and Antiques: Period Styles and Furniture, The Hyde Park Antiques Collection', New York 2006, p. 253.

William Kent (1685-1748) was a pioneering architect, furniture designer and painter, who was one of the leading figures in the introduction of the Palladian style of architecture to England in the early Georgian period. A native of Yorkshire, Kent travelled to Italy in his youth where he studied classical architecture and was exposed to the work of Andrea Palladio, the leading proponent of Palladian architecture. On his return to England, he is largely credited with 'importing' this architectural style and for subsequently contributing to the design of some of Britain's finest houses such as Holkham Hall, Houghton Hall and Chiswick House.

With a clear affection for classical design, Kent's Palladianism extended beyond his architectural activities to include painting and furniture design. Kent's furniture formed part of his wider Palladian vision; inspired by ancient Rome and the Renaissance, his furniture is characterised by rich carvings, gilding and classical motifs such as acanthus leaves, scrolls, shells, masks and eagles. His oeuvre proved fashionable and popular in the context of the developing grandeur and classical tastes of Georgian Britain.

The eagle was a recurring motif in William Kent's decorative vocabulary, owing to its classical significance. The eagle was a significant symbol in the classical world: it was the sacred bird of Zeus, was a symbol of Roman authority and power, and was generally seen as having aristocratic and noble connotations.

Examples of Kent's 'eagle tables' can most notably be found on the east and west walls of the Saloon at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. Another example is currently in the collection of Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire (NT 652695).

Whilst virtually no genuine giltwood console table by Kent has been sold at auction, several in the 'Kentian' manner have realised high prices. For similar examples, see Christie's, London, 'Jasper Conran: The Collection Part I', 14 September 2021, lot 106 (NB: this was attributed to Francis Brodie but is firmly in the manner of Kent), and Christie's, South Kensington, 'Interiors - Style & Spirit', 29 January 2013, lot 227.

A pair of tables of the same design and period were sold from the collection of Dame Barbara Cartland (1901-2000), Christie's, London, 8 July 1993, lot 94. Those examples were almost certainly supplied between 1891 and 1894 for Duncombe Park, Yorkshire, the seat of William Duncombe, 1st Earl of Feversham (1829-1915). Related 'Kentian' eagle console tables were commissioned for Sir Julius Wernher's celebrated house at Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, during the extensive refurbishment of c.1900-05 overseen by the renowned architects and decorators Charles Mewès and Arthur Davis.

These tables were previously in the collection of Angelo Donghia (1935-1985). Donghia was one of the most influential American interior designers of the late twentieth century, celebrated for creating interiors that combined understated luxury with modern comfort. Born in Pennsylvania in 1935, he studied at Parsons School of Design in New York before rising to prominence through his work with Yale R Burge Interiors and, later, his own firm, Donghia Associates.

Donghia's interiors rejected ostentation in favour of elegant simplicity, drawing inspiration from the refined modernism of Jean-Michel Frank. His signature style - characterised by rich textures, tailored upholstery, subtle glamour and exceptional attention to comfort - appealed to an international clientele that included Ralph Lauren, Halston, Diana Ross and Barbara Walters.

Beyond interior design, Donghia built a design empire encompassing furniture, textiles, showrooms and product licensing, helping to shape the look of American luxury interiors during the 1970s and 1980s. By the time of his death in 1985, he was widely regarded as one of the defining figures of modern interior decoration, and his influence remains evident in contemporary design today.

Condition Report

This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below.

Request A Condition Report