With a rectangular solid mahogany top and four legs joined by stretchers, these four lightweight, delicate tables were designed to be easily carried around to be used wherever convenient. Each of the four examples in the Bust Room are unique, though at first glance are very similar. They were probably produced by different cabinetmakers in the Chippendale firm, hence their slight variations of design. Whilst they are displayed in the corners of the Bust Room, they were originally designed to be used in the Adam-designed part of the House, as the Regency extension had not yet been constructed.

Conservation treatment

Commissioned by Ninian and Penelope Home, three other examples, one with eight legs, are also in the Trust’s collection. These four tables were conserved by Fergus Purdy  in the autumn of 2022 as they all had issues with stability and loose and/or missing frame supports. They had also suffered from past damage from stains or knocks.

This table had eight loose / detached blocks from the underside of the table top which were cleaned and reattached. Two of the tenon joint at the base were very loose; one could be repaired safely, whilst the other had a previous repair where two nails had been used to pin the joint. This meant that the joint could not be taken apart as this would risk causing further damage. After the surfaces of the joint been cleaned and had dried, it was re-glued by injecting fish glue. The joints were clamped until the glue had set.

The later varnish finish on the table top had been badly damaged, with two large ring marks and areas of localised loss of the varnish surface. The finished surfaces of the table were cleaned using 0000 grade wire wool and a small amount of white spirit. The varnish on the table top was then lightly cut back with 600 – 1200 grade wet and dry abrasive paper to remove the areas of white blooming around the ring marks. The areas of varnish loss were built up using a simple shellac polish which was then cut back and evened to the surrounding surfaces using wet and dry paper and 0000 grade wire wool. The surfaces were then wax polished with Harrell’s Furniture Wax using a soft cotton cloth. This transformed the table removing almost all of the previous damage.