This monumental table is a rare masterpiece of English furniture, custom-made by the Royal Marble Works for an important titled estate. Its striking design combines stunning Blue John and other important British fossil, marble and mineral specimens with exquisitely carved mahogany at an impressive scale, marking it as one of England's most important tables.

The Royal Marble Works epitomized the pinnacle of British decorative stone furnishings. Their exceptional skills were recognized and patronized by the royal family, defining a significant chapter in England's artistic heritage. The firm was catapulted into global fame during the Great Exhibition of 1851, with its critically acclaimed and prize-winning marble table presented by John Woodley. Subsequent royal engagements—including a commissioned order from Prince Albert for Osborne House and the purchase of a marble table by the Prince of Wales in 1856—helped them achieve the status of the world’s preeminent hardstone craftsmen.

This unique table showcases the height of this firm’s artistry, inlaid with an elegant kaleidoscope of some of the world's rarest and most visually striking stones, most notably Blue John. This stone is famed for its translucent layers that showcase a natural tapestry of deep blues, rich purples and golden yellows. The mastery required to work with Blue John—a material both soft and brittle that can quickly react to heat—means only the most skilled craftsmen can wield its nature-made beauty. In addition to Blue John, the table incorporates a magnificent array of rare British specimens, including Dulcote Agate, Turtlestone, Ashford Black Marble, Ashburton, Babbacombe Fossil Coral, Connemara, Cornish Serpentine, Fossil Marble, Ipplepen Marble, Kents Cavern Flowstone, Lummaton, Marston Magna, Petitor, Purbeck Spangle, Radford Marble, Red Ogwell, and Swaledale Fossil.

Circa 1840

34 1/8" high x 52 1/2" wide x 32" deep