Antique Card Tables and Side Tables: Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco
TABLES side and card
An ebonised card table decorated with inlaid boxwood stringing and marquetry. The canted edges of the folding top are banded with burr walnut. The four-pillar support and curved feet with arched cross-stretchered design topped by a vase-shaped finial is typical of mid-Victorian popular designs dating from 1860 onwards to the 1880s. C. & R. Light (1881) and Wyman (1877) show similar tables. The stylistic origins are French-classical and had a considerable vogue but ebonised furniture is not now a widespread taste. The inside top surface is baize lined.
An octagonal walnut card table with folding top, of similar date to 557. This time the base has more scroll decoration, leaning towards rococo stylistic ornament. Again a popular mid-Victorian style but more acceptable to modern taste due to the presence of walnut rather than ebonising, so a higher price to be expected.
A burr walnut card table with a rectangular top inlaid with ebony stringing lines and boxwood marquetry. This table has again got four turned columns supporting it but the base has been designed in end-standard or trestle fashion instead of a central platform. There is, again, the popular mid-Victorian turned finial, echoed in reverse below, between the end columns and the base is quite crisply carved with classical elaboration. 1860-1880
A figured walnut card table in a ’semi-Gothic’ style, in which the maker has used the same principle as the previous example for construction i.e. a double-pillar-and-stretcher base but adapted cleverly to Gothic
reformed styling in treatment with addition of some ideas of his own in the carving. A quite high quality piece probably made by a `commercial’ firm.
An inlaid marquetry card table in the French 18th century manner with metal mounts. As we have shown in the Bureaux bonheurs-du-jour section there was a considerable vogue for these high quality French pieces in the 1860-1880 period and considerable skills were involved in their production.
A satinwood table with folding top incorporating a shell inlay in the Sheraton manner. Useful as an occasional or games table with tray below and a superior example of a whole range of occasional tables with
stretchers, trays or ledges below, made very popular in the Edwardian period.m 1900-1910
A mahogany side table in the Adam manner, with serpentine top veneered in segments and fluted frieze and legs. There is a central drawer in the frieze with a panel carved with a vase motif. Another example of the
return to Adam classical designs which occurred in the 1880s. A rather difficult piece to place for the average collector and more likely to find an interior decorator’s approval.
A satinwood and marquetry card table in the ‘High Sheraton’ or Adam manner, inlaid with ribbon-tied swags of flowers on the top and frieze. The square tapering legs, ending in block feet, are also inlaid. It is a classic
example of the return, in Edwardian times, to late 18th century inlaid furniture and is a high quality reproduction, only erring in its probable tendency to over-elaboration. The Edwardians often felt that they could out-perform the original inlayers and this results in an over-profuse marquetry that betrays the reproduction from the original.
A reproduction ‘Chippendale’ folding card table in mahogany, on square legs with gadrooned edges. The serpentine shaping of the top is authentic but the carving on the frieze would give rise to a query from someone seeking the 18th century original. The ribbon and carving around the top edges is also perhaps a little too bold for the original article. A high quality piece nevertheless. 1900-1910
A mahogany card table of half-round type (’demilune’), opening to a circular top, in the ‘Sheraton’ manner. The top and frieze are inlaid with marquetry showing swags of husks. The square tapering legs end in castors.
Again a good example of the return to late 18th century Sheraton taste of classical type in the Edwardian period with a fairly faithful reproduction of the original 18th century type. 1900-1910
The oak craze personified an oak chair-table in imitation of a 17th century piece, in which the top tilts to act as the back of the chair when it is not used as a table. The rosettes carved into the top, which appear to
adorn both sides so as to be constantly visible, are not particularly in period spirit. The straight column turning of the legs and arm supports is, however, bold and laudable. A piece of convertible furniture which has always been a bit too clever by half one can neither sit at it to eat, nor eat off it when sitting.
A mahogany side table with 18th century square tapering legs, connected at back and side by an unnecessary stretcher. There is a back piece with a broken pediment. Intended as a hall table, but bordering on a washstand.
A mahogany reproduction ‘Chippendale’ card table in the 18th century rococo manner, on cabriole legs ending in ball-and-claw feet. The scrolled carving on the knees of the legs is crisply executed and so are the carvededges to the top. Just a little weakness at the ankles to identify the reproduction from the original, although colour and patina would be important indications.
A large mahogany version of a side or console table with carved central lion mask and profuse carving of acanthus leaf, fruit and floral forms. The cabriole legs end in hairy paw feet. An imitation of mid-18th century console tables in the grand manner, but rather high, large and clumsy for any use other than a hotel sideboard in Eastbourne or Gleneagles.
A floral marquetry reproduction side table with the very difficult form of ‘open-twist’ turned walnut legs ending in bun feet and with a veneered cross-stretcher. The spirit of the c.1680 date it is emulating has been very carefully kept even though it is obviously brand new look at those crisp sharp edges on the square section joints above the bun feet, and the cross-stretcher is a bit too square in section. (It should have been wider and shallower.) There is also something a bit unfinished about the rail below the drawer. The marquetry is fine quality even if a bit too bold and big in individual flower for 17th century work. Admirable, nevertheless.
A ‘William and Mary’ walnut side table with turned legs incorporating inverted cup (or `bell’) forms and bun feet, connected by an ‘X’ stretcher. A reproduction which is identifiably modern yet reasonably close to the
original in spirit. c. 1925
Tags: 1880s, 18th century, bureaux, burr walnut, design, gothic style, paw, victorian style