Gower House Side Table, one of a pair

This table is a rare domestic commission by the architect William Chambers. It was made for Gower House in London, the year before he began work on Somerset House. The table was originally built for a niche; an extra pair of back legs was added when it was removed, prior to Gower House’s demolition. The tabletop is recent and imitates the original white marble top, now lost. In the gilt wood base, Chambers created a sculptural surface with subtle contrasts in texture to catch the light and shimmer of candlelight.