The In Plain Sight blog series explores the fascinating stories behind often unnoticed objects along the visitor route at Chatsworth. From subtle details in furniture to lesser-known works of art, each object has a quiet history waiting to be discovered by those who pause and look more closely.
This highly elaborate giltwood pier table was designed by William Kent around 1727. Its significance lies in the fact that it is one of the very few pieces of furniture that can be confidently attributed to Kent. While he left many architectural drawings and interior sketches, surviving furniture designs are rare, and no bills for pieces supplied by him are known. Kent’s style was widely copied by contemporaries—and later generations—making it often difficult to distinguish an original Kent from a “Kent-style” piece.
One of the richest sources for Kent’s furniture designs is the 1744 publication Some Designs of Mr Inigo Jones and Mr William Kent, in which this table is illustrated. Originally, it was one of a pair created for Chiswick Villa, as noted in the accompanying inscription. Its companion table is now in the V&A in London, purchased in 1971 from a private collection. Curatorial visits confirm the two pieces are a match, sharing the same paper labels and colour washes on the reverse.
Kent designed these tables for Chiswick, the villa created for himself by the 3rd Earl of Burlington. The table’s journey to Chatsworth is the result of one of the most significant marriage alliances the Cavendish family ever made - a union that nearly doubled their collection and landholdings.
In 1748, William, Marquess of Hartington, married Charlotte Boyle, the only surviving child of the Earl of Burlington. Though arranged in childhood, the marriage was initially opposed by William’s mother, who feared it might fail. Her concerns proved unfounded: the couple enjoyed a happy union and had four children, though tragically Charlotte died of smallpox in 1754, aged just 23.
As Burlington’s sole heir, Charlotte inherited vast estates, including Chiswick, Lismore, Bolton Abbey, and Burlington House, along with her father’s extensive art collection, architectural drawings, and patronage commissions. Thanks to this inheritance, the furniture created for Chiswick - including Kent’s tables - now forms part of the Devonshire Collections, where it can be admired alongside countless other treasures.
Listen
Listen to Katherine Hardwick-Culpa, Assistant Curator at Chatsworth, talk about this piece in the Past Matters podcast (27 mins).
