Hungarian Ash Centre Table attributed to Holland & Sons

This exhibition quality table is attributed to Holland and Sons. The octagonal top is supported by four turned knopped legs, all joint by a solid shaped stretcher centred on an urn. The whole piece is decorated with the most exquisite marquetry in ebony, satinwood, boxwood and other contrasting woods and fine ormolu mounts. The top is vereered in Hungarian-ash within narrow bellflowers and guilloche borders. The legs and stretcher are embellished with further formal decorative moifs. English, c1860. H29”, diam 45” Holland & Sons of London were first recorded in 1815 as Taprell and Holland. Under the management of William Holland, a relative of the famous Regency architect Henry Holland, they became cabinetmakers and upholsterer to Queen Victoria; their first commission being Osborne House in 1845. Granted the Royal Warrant in 1846, the company went on to supply Windsor Castle, Balmoral and also the new Houses of Parliament. In 1851 they exhibited at the Great Exhibition and were represented at all the major exhibitions thereafter.