early 19th century italian tray In marquetry of polychrome marbles and hard stones such as malachite, purple breccia marble, alabaster, porphyry, lapis lazuli, Sicilian jasper, Spanish brocatelle, onyx, portor marble and verde antico marble, resting on a mahogany console, carved and gilded wood, English work from the William IV period. H. 87 cm (34 ¼ in.) l. 133 cm (52 ¼ in.) P. 67 cm (26 ¼ in.) Provenance: Bonhams London sale, 18 December 2020, lot 65 ; Acquired by the current owner during the sale. An Italian early 19th century specimen marble and pietra dura marble top, on a William IV parcel-gilt and mahogany console This type of console-mounted polychrome marble inlaid top reflects the infatuation shown by the English aristocracy between the end of the 18th century and the very beginning of the 19th century for Italian marble plaques, often collected during their Grand Tour of Europe. Trays of this type were commissioned by English collectors, who took them with them to England, before mounting them on English bases from the same period, such as the one that accompanies our example. A similar marble top, mounted on a base made by the Scottish cabinetmaker William Trotter, is illustrated in F. Bamford, A Dictionary of Edinburgh Furniture Makers, 1660-1840, Furniture History Society, 1983, pl. 55A. Another tray, mounted on a Regency-period base, appears to have been acquired by Edouard, Viscount Lascelles, for Harewood House in Yorkshire (see Christie's London sale, 5 April 2001, lot 412). Another Regency chair was sold at Sotheby's New York, from the Ariane Dandois collection, on 25 October 2007, lot 153.