An exceptional English Regency mahogany metamorphic library table of outstanding quality and mechanical ingenuity, dating to the early 19th century. Masterfully engineered, this dual-purpose piece transforms seamlessly from a handsome, freestanding library console into a sturdy, four-tier set of library steps.
The exterior is clad in finely figured flame mahogany veneers, exhibiting a deep, rich original patina. It stands elegantly on four reeded tapering legs, terminating in their original heavy brass cap casters for effortless mobility. When the concealed brass latches are released, the hinged top rotates smoothly, automatically raising a beautifully curved, sweeping handrail alongside steps inset with gold-tooled green leather treads.
Designed both for utility and display, the internal staircase features robust oak framing engineered to comfortably support use. This piece represents the pinnacle of patent "mechanical furniture" popularized by premier London cabinet makers like Morgan & Sanders.
Crucially, this example boasts an illustrious provenance. Discoverable within an internal drawer is the original, authentic 19th-century armorial bookplate (ex-libris) of John Hutton, Esq. (1774–1841) of Marske Hall, Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Hutton, a progressive bibliophile, High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and Lord of the Manor, likely used this specialized drawer to house his grand library's manuscript catalog or folio ledger. The presence of his heraldic crest—featuring the Hutton lozenges, fleur-de-lis, and biblical motto "Spiritus Gladius"—firmly anchors this piece to the historic Marske Hall library collection.
A rare, highly collectible masterwork, this table offers an unbroken link to early Victorian aristocratic intellectual life. It brings both profound historical sophistication and functional novelty to any contemporary study or classic interior.
Provenance: From the collection of John Hutton, Esq., Marske Hall Library in North Yorkshire, UK
Size: 40.5” W x 25.25” D x 30.25” H (76” H opened)
C. 1820, England
An exceptional English Regency mahogany metamorphic library table of outstanding quality and mechanical ingenuity, dating to the early 19th century. Masterfully engineered, this dual-purpose piece transforms seamlessly from a handsome, freestanding library console into a sturdy, four-tier set of library steps.
The exterior is clad in finely figured flame mahogany veneers, exhibiting a deep, rich original patina. It stands elegantly on four reeded tapering legs, terminating in their original heavy brass cap casters for effortless mobility. When the concealed brass latches are released, the hinged top rotates smoothly, automatically raising a beautifully curved, sweeping handrail alongside steps inset with gold-tooled green leather treads.
Designed both for utility and display, the internal staircase features robust oak framing engineered to comfortably support use. This piece represents the pinnacle of patent "mechanical furniture" popularized by premier London cabinet makers like Morgan & Sanders.
Crucially, this example boasts an illustrious provenance. Discoverable within an internal drawer is the original, authentic 19th-century armorial bookplate (ex-libris) of John Hutton, Esq. (1774–1841) of Marske Hall, Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Hutton, a progressive bibliophile, High Sheriff of Yorkshire, and Lord of the Manor, likely used this specialized drawer to house his grand library's manuscript catalog or folio ledger. The presence of his heraldic crest—featuring the Hutton lozenges, fleur-de-lis, and biblical motto "Spiritus Gladius"—firmly anchors this piece to the historic Marske Hall library collection.
A rare, highly collectible masterwork, this table offers an unbroken link to early Victorian aristocratic intellectual life. It brings both profound historical sophistication and functional novelty to any contemporary study or classic interior.
Provenance: From the collection of John Hutton, Esq., Marske Hall Library in North Yorkshire, UK
Size: 40.5” W x 25.25” D x 30.25” H (76” H opened)
C. 1820, England
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