An important Regency pollard oak and mulberry oyster-veneered circular

An important Regency pollard oak and mulberry oyster-veneered circular tip-top centre table of historical literary interest, the top with 52 oyster-veneered panels of mulberry wood, purportedly from the mulberry tree that grew in William Shakespeare's garden in Stratford-upon-Avon, each piece representing a year of the Bard's life, the crossbanded border with an applied period brass plaque, engraved with the table's provenance, the flared triform pedestal with finely carved edging and terminating in a triform platform issuing downswept scrolling feet, height 74cm, diameter 135cm (minor faults). Transcription of engraved brass plaque: This table known in the family as 'Shakespeare's' table is formed of 52 pieces of Mulberry wood laid in local Oak having reference to the poet's age at his decease. The Mulberry tree was well known at Stratford as Shakespeare's Mulberry tree and grew in the gardens of a Mrs Besant or Bessant who occupied the larger house in which Shakespeare and his family lived. Whether the tree fell or was cut down is uncertain but of the wood two tables were made, one in the possession of Wm Hunt Esqr of Stratford and the other this belonging to the Revd Thos Higgins, to whose first wife it was bequeathed by her father, J. Mills Esqr of Billesley Hall, Stratford on Avon Co. Warwick by whom it was won in a raffle of 100 guineas. Provenance: the Reverend Thomas Higgins and thence by descent to the current owner. Note: Shakespeare's mulberry tree must be one of the most notorious trees in literary history. Thought to have been planted at his final home, New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, in around 1609, when King James was encouraging the planting of mulberry trees across Britain to help build a domestic silk industry, the tree is believed to have been cut down in 1756, when the current owner of New Place, the Reverend Francis Gastrell, grew tired of tourists constantly visiting and asking to see the tree. Local carpenter Thomas Sharp bought much of the felled tree and many carved mementoes were made. After Sharp's death the remaining stock was purchased by John Marshall, who continued making similar objects. Whole logs were also made available to selected cabinet makers. The other table mentioned on the brass plaque is almost certainly now within the collection of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, along with provenance confirming that it was made for the Hunt family. See H. Blairman & Sons website for another table believed to have been veneered with the same wood.

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