A near pair of Italian late 18th/early 19th century carved giltwood and gilt gesso side tables
one table dating to 1780-1800, the other apparently early 19th century, both tables probably Roman
Each with a thick Sicilian Jasper and stone top mounted with a foliate-and-reel upper edge, above a twin tablet frieze, each tablet centred by a vase of flowers flanked by addorsed recumbent griffins with tails issuing scrolled stylised foliage within beaded surrounds, with Pliny's doves upon a fluted urn to the centre and Mercury mask angles, over a husk moulded lower edge, on four stiff-leaf headed ring turned and fluted tapering legs each with Vitruvian scroll embellished and beaded collars, terminating in foliate wrapped feet, some minor variations, the slightly later table stamped: 'C. MELLIER & Co.', each approximately: 156cm wide x 79cm deep x 96cm high, (61in wide x 31in deep x 37 1/2in high) (2)
Footnotes:
The ormolu mounts surmounting the upper front and side edges of the Sicilian Jasper marble tops on the offered tables are a distinctive and fairly recurrent characteristic of Roman furniture made during the 18th century, and even on various pieces produced in Rome in the early 19th century as well.

The 'C. Mellier & Co' stamp, which appears on the slightly later example from the present near pair, indicates that this specific table most likely underwent restoration by Charles Mellier's company at some point from 1868 onwards.

C. Mellier & Co. was arguably one of the most renowned cabinet making firms and restorers which flourished during the latter part of the 19th century in Britain, but interestingly had its roots in France. Charles Mellier is recorded as beginning his career in the award winning Anglo-French company run by Georges-Alphonse Monbro, eventually taking it over himself in 1868, and thereby establishing the new name, C. Payne, 19th Century European Furniture, Woodbridge, 1981, pp.'s 42-3.

Mellier, who often worked in conjunction with famous contemporary interior designers, furnished numerous prestigious addresses such as 14, 27 and 45 Grosvenor Square in London, and Farmleigh House and Estate in Dublin. The London addresses of the Anglo-French Mellier & Co. business are historically documented at both 60 Margaret Street and a Cavendish Square location. The enterprise continually expanded and went on to become, by the turn of the century, perhaps the foremost English furniture manufacturer to exhibit at the St Louis World Fair in 1904.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP
TP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.