Antique Late 18th Century Tables
Late XVIII Century Tables
18th Century tables, although not described as such in Chippendale’s Director, were a new type of table. During the first half of the 18th century, people tended to sit at small tables to eat, arranged in groups in a dedicated eating room.
Around the 1750s, people began to eat at longer tables. Quite often, these consisted of a central, rectangular gateleg table to which two D-ends were joined to make one long piece. When not assembled as such, the D-ends might be used as pier tables.
For the most part, these dining tables were plain, with either square or tapering legs. This began to change from around 1780, when tables were often supported by pedestals.
Early examples of dining tables, such as those supplied by Chippendale in 1770, had half-round ends and deep, rectangular drop leaves. These were supported, when raised, on gate legs and secured using stirrup clips.
Table legs were influenced by Neoclassical style and became more slender and tapering in shape as the century progressed.
As the passion for games and gambling now pervaded every level of society, large numbers of games tables
were made, particularly in England and the American colonies, and these gained popularity in Europe towards the end of the century.
Many games tables had a top that folded back to reveal a baize-lined surface or an inlaid games board, and one or two legs that swung back to support the open top. When not in use, the table would usually be stored
against the wall, so the side facing the wall was generally left undecorated.
Pembroke tables were multi-purpose, and could be used for dining, games, or as worktables, depending on the occasion. Being small and on casters, they could be moved around a room as required.
Like other occasional tables, Pembroke tables were usually highly decorative. Those made of satinwood or mahogany were often inlaid with Neoclassical designs, although painted decoration was also popular.
Marquetry remained fashionable throughout the period.
Dressing tables were often designed like deep tables with drawers. These usually featured ingenious mechanical fittings such as dressing mirrors that rose and fell in slots.
The escutcheons and handles are made of brass.
Carved acanthus adorns the knees of the table.
ENGLISH GAMES TABLE
Made from mahogany, this games table has a rectangular top that folds back to reveal a baize-lined playing surface. The concave corners hold counters.
c.1760.
The protruding, square corners are also functional, as their concave insides hold counters.
Metal hinges hold the two top sections together.
The rear legs do not have claw-and-ball feet. as the table was not designed to be seen from all sides.
ENGLISH CARD TABLE
This mahogany, D-shaped card table has a fold-over top and baize-lined interior. It is veneered with satinwood banding, with ebony and boxwood string inlay. c.1785.
ENGLISH PEMBROKE TABLE
This small mahogany table is intricately inlaid with various woods, including harewood, a veneer from the sycamore tree that is stained to produce a brown-green colour similar to khaki. c.1780.
SCANDINAVIAN TABLES
ade of satin birchwood, each table has a demi-lune top placed at an angle on a frae above three square-section, tapered legs. The D-shape or demi lunge is often associated with card tables that were designed to be placed
against a wall when not in use. However, these tables are more likely to have been used as side tables because they are too tall to sit at. c.1790. W87cm(34%in). L&T 3
SWEDISH PIER TABLE
This table is made of painted and gilded softwood, with a faux-marble top and plinth. Gilt balls top each turned, tapered leg, below which are carved and gilded acanthus leaves and gilt supports.
FRENCH TABLE
Made of mahogany, this rectangular table has a single frieze drawer. The square, tapering legs have brass terminals and casters, which allowed the occasional table to be moved easily. c.1785.
ENGLISH FOLD-OVER TEA TABLE
This mahogany tea table is made in the French Hepplewhite style. The serpentine top has a moulded edge and rests on a serpentine frieze, which is raised on cabriole legs. The legs are carved at the top of the knees
with stylized anthemia. c.1770.
ITALIAN PIER TABLE
This imposing table has a rectangular faux-marble top. The frame is painted and decorated with applied gilt scrolls and rosettes. The circular, tapered legs are also painted. Gilding is applied to the concave sections of
the stop-fluted legs. c. 1780.
ENGLISH DRUM TABLE
This table has an inset-leather surface, four frieze drawers, one of which is fitted with an adjustable writing slope, and four dummy drawers. The table revolves on a turned central column, which is set above four inlaid sabre legs with brass lion’s paw casters. c.1800.
DUTCH OCCASIONAL TABLE
The top of this demilune-shaped piece is decorated with an inlaid urn surrounded by crossbanding. Tambour doors slide sideways to open. It stands on three square-section, tapering legs decorated with boxwood and ebony stringing. c.1790.
FRENCH DROP-LEAF DINING TABLE
This Cuban mahogany table has a rounded, rectangular top with two D-shaped leaves. It has a plain frieze and six squared, tapered legs with brass caps and casters. The legs move out to support the open leaves and
additional leaves. Signed Jean-Antoine Brunel. c.1795.
SWEDISH CARD TABLE
This demi-lune-shaped table has a frieze and squared legs. It is very similar to an English card table, apart from the two legs, which are awkwardly bunched together. One of them swings back to support the top when opened. c.1780.
ENGLISH OVAL TABLE
This is one of a pair of French-style tables decorated with marquetry and parquetry. The oval top has a central panel with an inlaid spray of flowers and ribbons and the frieze has a floral inlay. The table has capriole legs. c.1785.
ENGLISH PIER TABLE
The top of this demi-line table is inlaid with satinwood, rosewood, ebony, and boxwood. The marquetry features a fan, echoing the shape of the table. Inlaid paterae are inserted at the tops of the square, tapering legs, which terminate in spade feet. c.1790.
SWISS GAMES TABLE
This walnut and cherrywood table has a heavy, hinged, fold-over top, with rounded corners and a brown, gilt-leather inner surface. The shaped table skirt is carved and the capriole legs are carved at the knees and
tips. The rear leg swings back to support the open top. c.1780.
Tags: card tables, casters, chippendale, dining tables, dressing table, England, ENGLISH, FRENCH, gateleg, gateleg table, inlaid, mahogany, marquetry, Neoclassical, neoclassical style, occasional tables, PEMBROKE, pembroke tables, pier tables, rear leg, satinwood, small tables, table legs, Tables, two legs, WORKTABLE, xviii century