Oliver Cornish
Sale Coordinator for Furniture, Sculpture, Rugs & Tapestries
Lot 76Ф,TP,Y
An Italian second half 19th century macassar ebony, ebony, engraved ivory marquetry and ebonised writing or library table Milan, 1860-1880, possibly by Ferdinando Pogliani
3 December 2025, 13:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£1,500 - £2,500
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Thomas Moore
Head of Department
An Italian second half 19th century macassar ebony, ebony, engraved ivory marquetry and ebonised writing or library table
Milan, 1860-1880, possibly by Ferdinando Pogliani
With ivory stringing and strung tablets, the inlay largely configured as patterns comprised of opposing dragons, unusual woodland creatures, pairs of putti, satyr and faun masks, harpies, classical female masks within shaped cartouches and horned Green Man masks amidst abundant scrolled stylised foliage, the quarter veneered top within a rectangular surround with re-entrant angles and four spandrels, above one long oak lined frieze drawer with projecting mouldings and a volute scrolled apron, on moulded part-reeded part fluted and acanthus wrapped Ionic columnar tapering legs each headed by gadrooned collars terminating in lobed bun feet, with a shaped x-stretcher, 141cm wide x 82cm deep x 76cm high, (55 1/2in wide x 32in deep x 29 1/2in high)
With ivory stringing and strung tablets, the inlay largely configured as patterns comprised of opposing dragons, unusual woodland creatures, pairs of putti, satyr and faun masks, harpies, classical female masks within shaped cartouches and horned Green Man masks amidst abundant scrolled stylised foliage, the quarter veneered top within a rectangular surround with re-entrant angles and four spandrels, above one long oak lined frieze drawer with projecting mouldings and a volute scrolled apron, on moulded part-reeded part fluted and acanthus wrapped Ionic columnar tapering legs each headed by gadrooned collars terminating in lobed bun feet, with a shaped x-stretcher, 141cm wide x 82cm deep x 76cm high, (55 1/2in wide x 32in deep x 29 1/2in high)
Footnotes
Milan was the main centre for the production of ebony and ivory inlaid items, of the type represented by the present lot, predominantly made during the 1860s and 1870s. The finest Milanese pieces of this kind were often executed by one of the leading Italian cabinet makers of the period, Ferdinando Pogliani (1832-1899). However, arguably the most impressive ivory inlaid furniture made during the 19th century emanated from the Roman workshop of the unrivalled master, Giovanni Battista Gatti (1816-1889). On balance it seems more likely that the offered table is of Milanese origin.
The part of this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10) Ref AMFXA7KN.