A magnificent antique pair of carved and painted wooden console tables, in the manner of William Kent

Two entwined stylised dolphins with centred scallop shells act as supports for the original Breccia Violetta marble tops. Their inapt faces, striking fins, fish scales and extravagantly splayed tails are based on ancient Greek mythological representations. The scallop shells represents Venus and the dolphins represents Neptune. The breakfront plinths are carved with overlapping acanthus leaves.

These tables are based on designs from the 1720’s by English architect William Kent. They are in the Neo Palladian taste and the subject of the paired dolphins can be traced back to Roman antiquity, when it was used in the Temple of Neptune at Rome.

Circa 1900