Indo Portuguese centre table – £16,000 at Dreweatts.
Its precise origins were unknown but the presence of what is thought to be a southern European armorial (possibly altered at a later date) suggests it was made in India under Portuguese patronage.
The general consensus was that, while the table was decorated in the manner of Vizagapatam work of the 18th century and earlier, it was most probably made in the 19th century. The provenance was listed as the White House, Marlborough.
A supremely decorative piece, and typical of the exotic colonial furnishings that today command more interest than their European counterparts, it improved upon its £5000-7000 estimate on September 5 to bring £16,000 (plus 24% buyer's premium).
The buyer was from the London trade.
