Painted satinwood tables from the Georgian period are extremely scarce, particularly in original condition.

The example we have for sale came from a family estate in Anglesey and was sold at the local cattle market. Its small size, elegant proportions and slender legs all indicated a date around 1780, as did the strong figuring and golden colour of the West Indian satinwood. A further sign of structural quality was that the carcass wood and drawer lining were solid mahogany.

The oval top carries a broad band of freely painted floral decoration on a neutral ground, in a well-nigh perfect state of preservation and with a pleasing degree of craquelure. The bowed drawer front and opposing dummy were sparingly painted with swags and cornucopiae, as were the legs with stylised leaves and pendant harebells.