CIRCA 1820, PROBABLY ROME

The table top, with its distinctive figuring, is almost identical, both in size and the veining, to another table top in the Sculpture Gallery at Chatsworth, on a circa 1830 base, acquired by William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858), who collected many mineral specimens. It is not inconceivable that the alabaster tops could have come from the same piece of stone, acquired in Italy in the late eighteenth century, on respective Sturt and Cavendish Grand Tours.
It is unclear when the present lot entered the collections of the Alington family at Crichel House, Dorset but many members of the family were inveterate collectors, including Humphrey Sturt (1724-1786). The latter was responsible for the remodelling of Crichel House from the 1770s, including designs by James Wyatt, a painted interior by Biagio Rebecca, and significant furniture commissions, including a ‘Chinese Chippendale’ side table, sold Christie’s, London 23 May 2012, lot 230 (£241,240, including premium). The collections at Crichel continued into the 20th century with both the last Lord Alington (1896-1940) and his daughter The Hon. Mary Anna Marten adding to the collections. The last Lord Alington, alongside his sister Lois, later Viscountess Tredegar, both purchased extensively in Italy between the wars, including a possible Imperial present by Luigi Manfredini which was sold from the estate of The Hon. Mary Anna Marten; Christie's, London, 7 July 2011, lot 7 (£612,450, including premium).

Please note that the bronze base illustrated in the interior image is not included with this lot.