IF YOU were to identify a single piece of furniture that sums up the pomp – and romp – of the Regency era, celebrated in the popular Bridgerton Netflix series, look no further than the hunt table. This fine demilune side table on castors may have the appearance of a slightly overdressed mahogany wallflower as it resides primly tucked against the wall, but draw it into the room, remove its central sleeve and out will unfurl an object that contains all the relish and titillation of an observant Lady Whistledown. And it would have similar tales to tell, too, for this was a table around which to party.
Hunt tables are, as their name suggests, traditionally associated with the hunt. The English kinds “were a bit like the 18th-century equivalent of a drinks trolley”, says Nicholas Wells, who is one of the few UK dealers to have had one pass through his hands during the past few years at his shop in Piccadilly, a rare mahogany piece dating from 1820 attributed to the noted furniture maker Gillows, which made them fashionable at the time.
“After the hunt, the table would be wheeled somewhere near a fire and everyone would sit down or stand so they could grab a drink from one of two decanters that swung around the table on a brass arm and get their legs toasty,” says Wells. Often the tables were placed in hallways so the mud-splattered squires didn’t have to remove their boots.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2023 من The Field.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2023 من The Field.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.
Fodder
Local fare with the feel-good factor.
Celebrating the game changers
Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross
The first civil engineer
John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever
School spirits
From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure
Top of the pups
Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief
Angling for success
It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help
Talking scents
The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years
Wall-to-wall excitement
Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference