Chippendale table stolen from Newby Hall

NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE are investigating a burglary stately home near Ripon, during which a Chippendale table worth over £100,000 was taken.

The George III rosewood and marquetry table was made especially for Newby Hall in 1775 and is of worldwide importance.

Thieves broke in through the window of a ground-floor drawing room at the front of Newby Hall at about 2.20 on Friday morning (29 June). They took only the table, suggesting that the item was stolen to order.

There have been high-value art thefts in other Northern counties, but detectives say it is too early in the investigation to link this crime with any other.

The table, made by Thomas Chippendale is 41 inches wide, 28in high and 30in deep. It is described as "having a rectangular twin-flap top that is crossbanded with lighter rosewood and inlaid with a fan oval with seeded oval centre edged with bellflowers and framed by a ribbon-tied laurel wreath on a quartered ground, the angles with scrolls and shells, the flaps each with quartered ground centred by paterae framed with husks issuing tiered scrolls ending in rose sprays, the frieze with drawers on square tapering legs bordered with satinwood and block feet".

The owner, Mr Richard Compton, says the piece is one of the finest examples of Chippendale's work and has featured in many papers and books on fine furniture - which makes it virtually unsellable on the open market.

Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area of Newby Hall in the early hours of Friday morning, or who has any information that will lead Police to the thieves and the table should call North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7, or Crimestoppers, if they prefer to call anonymously, on 0800-555111.