George II Style Giltwood Wolf Console Stamped Lenygon and Co. After William Kent

The console features two life-sized carved and gilded wolves sitting on either side of the front corners looking backwards at each other. The console base is painted dark brown resembling bronze which sets off the gilded wood decoration. The two wolves heads support a painted and gilded apron decorated with Vitruvian scolls. Also joining the wolf heads are two hanging swags of gilded acorns connecting with a central large gilded draped classical head of Athena. Two carved and gilded S-shaped rear ‘legs’ join the base to the apron. Truly a tour de force of design and execution. A conforming contemporary marble top of opalescent labradorite replaced the original badly damaged marble top. The labradorite further adds to the uniqueness of the piece.

The table was made by Lenygon and Co. and carries the namesake stamp on a back rail. Photo of the stamp is included in the photo portfolio. This company was founded in 1904 by Francis Lenygon (1877-1943) who was trained as a cabinetmaker at the South Kensington Museum in London. Soon after he opened his shop he teamed up with Charles Duveen, son of Sir Joseph Duveen and through this association, the firm of Lenygon and Co quickly became the cabinetmaker of choice to England’s aristocracy.

Traveling to the United States in 1910, Lenygon gained several wealthy and sophisticated clients who relied on him to furnish authentic and replica interiors in period styles for the stately homes being built in the affluent parts of the US. A notable commission was Nelson Rockefeller, who hired Lenygon to consult on the reconstruction of Colonial Williamsburg and its Governor’s Palace. His second wife, Jeanette Becker Lenygon was also a well-respected interior designer, best known for her redecoration of several rooms in the White House during John F. Kennedy’s presidency and for the interior redesign of Gracie Mansion for New York mayor John Lindsay.

Of special interest to prospective owners of this console, Three Centuries Gallery was contacted by Christopher Payne a familiar face world wide as an expert on furniture and sculpture on the established BBC programme, the ‘Antiques Roadshow’. who requested permission to use a photo of the console and makers stamp which reportedly is quite rare, for a 560 plus page book he will be publishing titled British Furniture 1820 – 1925 The Luxury Market . The photo of the console will be featured p. 485, in the 1910-1920 chapter. The planned cover for the book is shown in the photo gallery.