Lot 145: - A George III gilt-wood demi-lune pier table circa 1785

Inventory of Household Furnishings Belonging to the Right Hon. Lord Delaval at Hanover Square House, November 7th 1783.
(Northumberland Collection Services, Seaton Delaval Papers 2 DE.31-2).Large Room Fronting to Square '2 marble tables, Brown and white viened [sic] with stands as gilt frames'

Supplied to Sir John Hussey-Delaval, later 1st Lord Delaval (1728-1808) and thence by descent.

It is likely that this table formed part of a group of furniture commissioned by Sir John Hussey-Delaval (1728-1808), created Lord Delaval in 1783 for his residence on Hanover Square which was remodelled by Robert Adam between 1781 and 1783 or Millburn, his villa at Claremont which Adam remodelled for him between 1787 nand 1790. Lord Delaval is recorded as a patron of some significant furniture makers in the 1760's. During the latter part of that decade he commissioned four cabinets, then a sofa bed and subsequently a commode from John Cobb (Northumberland Collection Services, Seaton Delaval Papers 2 DE.34-2-80). During the late 1770's after he had inherited Seaton Delaval Hall, he turned to Henry Hill of Marlborough who supplied further commodes, a wardrobe, a set of gilt cabriole chairs (op. cit. 2 DE 34-2-79). Unfortunately no correspondance survives from the 1780's when he employed Robert Adam to remodel his London town house or when he added wings to Seaton Delaval Hall. There are letters and invoices though from Brookshaw regarding Chimney pieces for the London house, also from the French cabinet makers settled in London J. Merlin and Olivier-Darciers, as well as a reference to Sefferin Nelson who carved two pedestals for this London house in 1782 at a cost of £27.