Without Reserve: Antiques

LENNOX CATO

Without RESERVE

Pembroke tables have been the mainstay of the antiques dealer for decades and remain as elegant and useful as they did in the 18th century, writes Antiques Roadshow specialist Lennox Cato

However, Thomas Sheraton in his Cabinet Dictionary, 1803, describes a Pembroke table as “a type of breakfast table, from the name of the lady who first gave orders for one of them, and who probably gave the first idea of such a table to the workmen.” The lady in question being the Countess of Pembroke.

TIME-HONOURED DESIGN

Generally, the tables are designed in rectangular form with one or two drawers and flaps on either side. The flaps are on concealed hinges, usually three on each side and once raised, brackets are pulled out which support the flaps. You may find in some old reference books or journals these supports were known as ‘elbows’. We now refer to them as bracket supports. The Pembroke table is raised on small castors so the table may be moved around more easily.

Thomas Chippendale was perhaps the first cabinet maker to produce this new style of table as we know it today, made of solid mahogany with carved details, designs of which can be seen in The Gentleman and The Cabinet Maker’s Director, first published 1754. As we know, Chippendale was always ahead of the curve and, as time went on, he started using exotic woods in the manufacture of everyday furniture including the Pembroke table. These included woods such as ‘pidgeon wood’, Gaudalupe, ‘Nutmeg’ and ‘Allegozant’ (Ref; C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London 1978. Vol 1, pp.159.183. and 280).

VARYING STYLES

As the period progressed the Pembroke table evolved into many different shapes and sizes. Still keeping to the basic format of a small table with flaps, the designs became increasingly flamboyant with shaped ends to the flaps, sometimes known as butterfly ends and curved ends making the table oval in shape.

The table is thought to have been named after Lt-Gen. Henry Herbert, 6th Earl of Montgomery and 9th Earl of Pembroke (1693-1750) who, after taking part on the Grand Tour in the early 18th century, became inspired by all things antique.

He was friends with the Palladian architect William Kent and designed several buildings in the neo-classical taste, including his own home, Pembroke House in Whitehall. His talents extended so far he even became known as the ‘architect’ among his close friends and allies, which included Horace Walpole, Britain’s first prime minister.

Herbert was also an early vegetarian who attempted to live on a diet of just beetroot and watercress – an eating regime which almost killed him.

Above Satinwood Pembroke table with a crossbanded top, c. 1780, image courtesy of Lennox Cato

Right Pembroke table from Paxton House, Berwickshire by Thomas Chippendale. The table has a serpentine crossbanded top above a drawer on cabriole legs with carved palmettes on the knees and scroll feet with leather castors

Exuberant inlays could be found in examples from the finest workshops such as Ince and Mayhew, Henry Kettle and Henry Hill of Marlborough. George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton showed their designs in their own published directories.

Various veneers such as sycamore, satinwood and padouk were often used with fine marquetry and parquetry work.

VARIETY OF USES

Due to their versatility this design of table could be used as a tea table, card table and writing table. You will also find Pembroke tables with gaming sections as gaming was so popular in the 18th century. The table would have a removable section which hid an area for backgammon or chess.

I have owned Pembroke tables with fitted drawers for tea, having compartments for green or black tea with solid silver cannisters. 18th-century examples were elegantly supported on square tapering legs as well as the French cabriole leg as seen in the image from Paxton House, designed by Thomas Chippendale. As the design entered the 19th century, the legs began to become turned or

Above An early George III mahogany Pembroke table with blind fret legs, based on a design by Thomas Chippendale entitled Breakfast Tables (1754)

Above right A metamorphic Pembroke table of satinwood, burr wood and boxwood inlay, ascribed to Mayhew and Ince, image courtesy of Windsor House Antiques

Right Hepplewhite period marquetry Pembroke table attributed to Ince and Mayhew, c. 1785. Now in a private collection, image courtesy of Lennox Cato

‘It may be a small item of furniture, but the Pembroke table certainly packs a punch in both its visual and practical terms. It was such a popular table it was mentioned in Jane Austen’s unfinished 1803-1804 novel The Watsons, with ‘Miss Watson seated at the best Pembroke table, with the best tea-things before her.’

Metamorphic examples

The ‘Harlequin’ Pembroke table designed by Thomas Sheraton, was a metamorphic table with an ingenious construction including an adjustable reading slope and banks of drawers all concealed into the design. It can be seen on plate 56 of The CabinetMaker and Upholsterer’s Drawing-Book (1792) which explains at some length the workings of the multipurpose table.

reeded. Gillows of Lancaster produced some very fine examples in this design.

The Pembroke table continued its popularity through the Victorian period into the Edwardian era including the Sheraton Revival. Some of the finer quality pieces were manufactured by Maple and Co., James Shoolbred & Co., and Edwards and Roberts.

Lennox Cato is a specialist on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and owns Lennox Cato Antiques, for more details go to www.lennoxcato.com