George Smith (1756 - 1826) was one of the most influential furniture designers of the English regency period (1811-1830. Smith, who started his pattern book in 1804, wrote about "the good taste and elegance" of this design. In 1808, he published his influential and definitive text on Regency Interior Design, entitled'A collection of designs for home furniture and interior decoration'and classified himself as'the extraordinary supporter of His Royal Excellency the Prince of Wales'... The Prince Regent. Smith has been inspired by his drawings since his previous career as an Egyptologist, producing drawings that incorporated motifs of heads and feet of leopards, lions, sphinxes, anthemia and griffins, among others. Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) published'Etchings, representing the best examples of ancient ornamental architecture; Extracted from the originals in Rome and other parts of Italy during the years 1794, 1795 and 1796', in which he illustrated an ancient tripod table with similar leopard heads and legs, based on the. Thomas Hope (1769-1831) was also another influential figure in Smith's projects. A wealthy young man, the eldest of three children in a family of Dutch bankers, Hope had traveled extensively for several years in the Middle East and Greece. He published his drawings of'old furniture'in domestic furniture and interior decoration. 1807', which was an important and influential book throughout the Regency period. George Smith interpreted Thomas Hopes'Egyptian and Greek themes (although the plates date from 1804-7) in a more practical design, with greater consideration for comfort and usefulness than for archaeological precision, widely accepted as the turning point in furniture Regency for the wealthy nobility. Literature for the design of the upper and leg of the monopody: The monopolies carved on this writing table were closely related to Smith's design for a sofa table (plate 83, 1804) and also to his design for a library table (plate 87, 1804. What can be seen in Smiths'book is the similarity in the design of the legs with hymn motifs embellished on the leg of a monopody lion. For a table similarly on the legs of monopod lions, see Margaret Jourdain, Regency Furniture, London, 1949, p128, fig. 139 from Lord Huntingfield, Heveningham Hall. In the same book, also the monopody legs of a design closely related to that of a Duke of Richmond mahogany side table c1810, Goodwood House, page 104 fig 89. A sofa bed supported by a similar monopody was provided by Gillows, which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum collection in London, illustrated in Margaret Jourdain, Regency Furniture, London, 1949, p. 99, fig. 77 Charles Norman and Gillows. Built by Charles Norman, which is noted in Susan E's book'Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840'. Stuart, where it is said'Lucy Wood reported a set of chairs similar to the standard "Edwards Library" (for this project see illustration 198) stamped'Norman Chas'(LL 4180, letter 6. 9. 1999. However, there is no evidence of his apprenticeship or presidency at Lancaster. The "Edwards Library" chair was a distinct pattern introduced by Gillows in 1810 and became very popular for them. Charles Norman is obviously a master cabinetmaker with links to the furniture designed by Gillows, producing items at the same time as the design of the Gillows design book. Obviously, there is a strong link between Charles Norman and Gillows, in addition to the rare upper part being almost a signature of Gillows, the woods used on this desk table are of such quality that Gillows monopolized during that time due to the company that imported the material. woods themselves.

For reference; a writing table with a very closely related top can be seen in the book'Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 by Susan E. Stuart, page 375, plate 444. It is the view of the Tatton Park Library, which was a highly important commission work for Gillows. For other examples of writing tables assigned to Gillows with a related top, see. Christies London, May 2, 2002, lot 157 was sold for £ 59. 750, although with fewer reed legs. Christies London, July 6, 2000, lot 88 was sold for £ 47. 000 with a leg similar to the previous one. Literature for the general project For a similar general design table with ebonized monopody legs, see Margaret Jourdain, Regency Furniture, London, 1949, p. 78, fig. 181 This table was later sold by Bonhams, London, Fine English Furniture, March 7, 2012, lot 225, £ 97250. A table from George IV's afternoon Roswood library (later on date and lined with oak and not mahogany) Christies London March 24, 2004 obtained £ 47. 800 while Christies notes that a Regency table more closely related to mahogany lined drawers was sold at Coke Colletion, Jenkyn Place, Christie's London, October 17, 1996, lot 57 (£ 144. 500. A Fine Regency Parcel Gilt Rosewood table in the Gillows way offered at Sothebys New York on November 18, 2011 was sold for $ 230. 500. Finally, a table of similar design published in the catalog of fine old English furniture from Ronald Philips 2016 can be seen on pages 72 and 73, item number 30. It is interesting to note that the variant designs of lion monopolies presented in Charles Heathcote Tatham Engravings, representing fragments of the Ancient Greek Ornament and Architectural Roman originally published in 1799, including that of an "Old Eastern alabaster Tripod from the collection at the Vatican Museum", which features an closely related prototype leg. As can be seen in literature, this is an impressive and very important piece, of extremely rare design, derived from the most famous designers of the Regency period. Height down 23 inches - 58.5 cm