Table, 1876

Venezuelian mahogany, brass
Made by William Watt, London
h. 69,5 cm - w. 39,5 cm - d. 40,2 cm

PROVENANCE : Private collection, southern France - French art market.

EXHIBITED : It is possible that this table is the example which was made for the William Watt stand at the 1878 Exposition Universelle, held in Paris from 1st May to 31st October 1878.

NOTE : There are two preparatory drawings known for this table. The first, dated 14th December 1876 and clearly identifying William Watt as the maker, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, while the second, in colour, is in the collection of the National Archives.

SIMILAR PIECES : This table is the only example known to be identical to the original drawings. A second table, made in walnut and missing the small Japanese galleries in the middle section was sold at Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury, UK, on 1st June 2007.

LITERATURE : Susan Weber Soros, 'The Secular Furniture of E.W. Godwin', 1999, page 160 plate 226.2. Only the drawing is illustrated as neither the Salisbury table nor this one had been discovered at the time.