A Very Good Quality Matched Pair Of 18th Century Georgian Mahogany Bedside Night Tables, Or Tray Top Commodes, Having Well Figured Galleried Tops With Pierced Carrying Handles, Over Cupboard Doors Enclosing Storage Compartments And Converted Pull Out Drawers, With Replacement Brass Handles To Front And Sides, Raised On Square Legs.

Dating from the latter part of the 18th century, this extremely attractive matched pair of Georgian bedside night tables are particularly good examples of the classic tray top commode form and retain a pleasing rich colour and surface throughout.

As is so often the case with genuine pairs of 18th century bedside tables, these have been matched together at some point during their long history rather than having begun life as a pair. However, the similarities between them are far greater than the differences and when positioned either side of a bed they work extremely well together. The minor variations include around half an inch here and there in the overall dimensions, subtle differences to some of the mouldings and small variations between the handles and other details. This is entirely consistent with the character of a genuine matched pair and, in our opinion, considerably preferable to attempting to disguise those differences. S

Constructed from good quality mahogany throughout, both retain attractive figuring, particularly to the galleried tray tops and cupboard doors. The raised galleries incorporate useful pierced carrying handles and were originally designed to help prevent objects placed on the tops from being accidentally knocked off — a feature which remains every bit as practical alongside a bed today.

Below, the cupboard doors open to reveal generous storage compartments, whilst the lower sections have been converted into extremely useful pull-out drawers. This is a very common and sensible adaptation to Georgian night tables of this type, allowing them to function perfectly as conventional bedside tables whilst retaining their original external appearance. Replacement brass handles have been fitted to the drawers and cupboard doors, together with carrying handles to the sides.

One of the great attractions of these Georgian tray top commodes is their combination of relatively compact proportions and surprisingly generous storage. They are also considerably more substantial than many conventional bedside tables and, with the enclosed cupboards, deep drawers and practical tray tops, remain exceptionally useful pieces of furniture in the modern home.

As with all items which we offer for sale, this pair of bedside tables have been attended to in our workshops by our highly skilled and traditional antique furniture restorers, where they have received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale. They are therefore ready to place straight into the home.

Circa 1760.

Table 1.
Height 30in.
Width 20.5in.
Depth 18.25in.

Table 2.
Height 30.5in.
Width 20.75in.
Depth 18in