William and Mary Period Carved Wood Table - A George I Period Table - A Virginian Walnut Table

Another walnut card table, c.1720, of the early eighteenth century with graceful cabriole legs decorated with shell motif on the knee and ending in ball and claw feet. The shaping for candle stands at the corners is
clearly shown, as are the inserted cups for counters.
William and Mary period carved wood table, c.1690, decorated with gilt and gesso. The decoration of furniture by gesso was done in order to economise in carving by giving a pattern in slight relief without the need to carve it. It was a rich man’s style and comparatively small quantities were made, chiefly small tables and mirror frames. The style appears to have had a relatively short duration, from 1700 to 1735.
A George I mahogany card table, c.1725, showing the candle stands and cups for counters similar to the walnut tables of an earlier period. The bold cabriole legs end in ball and claw feet and the shaped frieze has an echo of the shell motif about it. Tables of this kind in mahogany continued to be made into the second quarter of the eighteenth century.
A card table of Queen Anne period with fine cabriole legs, c.1710, ending in ball and claw feet. The knees show the shell and pendant husk motif, having a C scroll on the inside edge. Note the shaping at the corners.
The usual covering was green velvet or a plain polished wood surface as above. The method of extending the table, which folds to a side table when not in use, is of the ‘concertina’ action type. The cabriole legs are
‘hipped’ at the top i.e. continue above the line of the frieze in a scrolled shape.
Quality of hipped cabrioles, shell motif, bold ball and claw feet
A George 11 period card table, c.1730, in mahogany with shell motif on the cabriole logs. The shaped corners for candle stands are retained but the frieze is straight.
Price Range: 175  250
A George I period table, c.1725, in oak, the tapering legs ending in pad feet. A side table which could be put to use for cards or other occasional use. The space behind the frieze is used for storage. The top flap has
clearly been damaged at the side hinge and reversed to hang down behind the table. Originally it would have been flat, on the top of the table.
A George II mahogany side table, c.1740, elaborately carved on the frieze with a lion mask and acanthus leaves. The cabriole legs have lion masks carved on the knees with ribboned flower heads and terminate in ball and claw feet. The top is a marble slab.
fora single table
A George II period games table, c.1730, in mahogany with turned tapering legs ending in pad feet. The inner right-hand back leg is on a gate which swings out behind the table to support the top when the upper flap is
opened over by means of its side hinges to produce the circular games top. This inside surface is usually covered in baize, with a broad cross-banding produced by the baize being inset into the surface. The lower flap also opens on side hinges to give access to the deep storage space behind the frieze, where gaming materials are kept. The table is a natural stylistic evolution of the walnut one ref. ST1258, and examples in solid and veneered walnut were made. Cabriole legs were also employed on same example. Note the slightly overlapping shaping at the top of the legs, sometimes extended to form a ‘fold’ at the top of the leg. The inside surfaces sometimes have ‘cups’ scooped out of them for holding the gaming counters as shown on ST1260 and ST1261.
Cabriole legs  Fold on legs
Virginian or Red’ walnut
Counter Cups
A George II, c.1740, folding top table in heavy mahogany. The cabriole legs ending in pad feet are a modification of earlier cabriole legs in that the earlier exuberance has been curbed and the leg is now much more restrained. These tables were probably multi-purpose, being used for both games and for refreshments such as tea. The left-hand back leg is on a gate, to swing open to support the top when folded over in the open position. Side hinges allow this folding action and, as with all card tables, tend to be a point of weakness or breakage over the years.
A Virginian walnut table of c.1720, with fine cabriole legs ending in spade feet. This table has lost its folding top but the centre drawer and shaping of the frieze are similar to earlier types. A provincial or country made
version of the finer examples.

Queen Anne walnut dressing table - A Victorian folding walnut card-table - A George I period card table in mahogany - Small Walnut William and Mary period dressing table

A Queen Anne japanned dressing table and mirror set which Ulustrates clearly the form of the previous dressing table, but with octagonal legs. The arched front of the table has two turned acorn pendants. It is to be noted that the mirror is a particularly fine example, having abureau in miniature below it with stepped interior.
Another walnut card table of the early 18th century with graceful cabriole legs decorated with shell motif on the knee and ending in ball and claw feet. The shaping for candle stands at the corners is clearly shown, as
are the inserted cups for counters.
Small Walnut William and Mary period dressing table. The top would be veneered in walnut, quartered to give a symmetrical pattern from the figure, and with a ‘herring-bone’ or ‘feather’ inlay around it, inside the cross
banding. The thumb-nail moulding around the top edge and indeed the decoration of the top is similar to chests of drawers of the period. A half-round moulding around the drawers is also typical. In the frieze it is usual to find a shallow centre drawer and two deep ones on either side, or two short drawers. The arched shaping of the frieze is typical. Drawer pulls are of peardrop shape in brass and on a circular or star-shaped plate, the handle being linked to a double strip of brass or iron which was passed through a small hole in the drawer front, pasted pressed down and pinned into the wood. The inverted cup form on the legs, as mentioned earlier, shows the Dutch influence and the bun feet and shaped veneered stretchers are also typical.
A card table of William and Mary period with fine cabriole legs, ending in ball and claw feet. The knees show the shell and pendant husk motif, having a. C scroll on the inside edge. Note the candle-stands at the
corners. The usual covering was green velvet and the frame and rounded edge of the top are in cross-grained walnut. The method of extending the table, which folds to a side table when not in use, is of the
‘concertina’ action type.
Value points: Quality of hipped cabrioles, shell motif, bold ball and claw feet
Queen Anne walnut dressing table. Note that the turned legs of the William and Mary period have now changed to cabrioles although the shaping of the frieze remains similar. The top edge moulding, veneers and
drawer arrangement are still in the earlier style.
Value points: Quality of cabriole legs  Original handles
Walnut dressing table, first 41 of 18th century. The rather deep full top drawer gives a slightly top-heavy effect since the cabriole legs are rather slender. The top edge moulding is a refined thumbnail type. The top
veneer is quartered and cross banded;the drawers are edged with cock-beading and have a feather or herring-bone cross banding. The handles are not original. A poor photograph which makes the piece out of
proportion.
A George I period card table in mahogany with shell motif on the cabriole legs. The shaped corners for candle stands are retained but the frieze is straight.
A Virginian walnut table of c. 1720 with fine cabriole legs ending in spade feet. This table has lost its folding top but the centre drawer and shaping of the frieze are similar to the preceding example. A provincial or
country made version of the finer examples.
Price Range: (with folding top)
A late Victorian or Edwardian mahogany dining table. The square cornered influence of the late 19th century gives rise to mixture of designs which wholly fail to blend.
Value points: Mahogany
Examples are frequently to be found in oak.
A Victorian folding walnut card-table. Like the circular and oval dining tables of the period, it is thinly veneered in burr walnut and inlaid with marquetry patterns. The base is quite elaborately carved. Inside the surface is lined with baize.
Marquetry inlay
An early Victorian circular dining table of a type found in both mahogany and burr walnut veneer. The tripod carved base with its leaf, scroll and paw foot carving shows great exuberance and quality of execution. An
example of good Victorian cabinet work.
A mahogany late Victorian dining table with the heavy underframe and ponderously turned bulbous legs. The top is usually made of two or three leaves and the table can be of the extending type. Note that the edge moulding has become rather over emphasized.
Quality of leg turning  Figured woods

17th century oak gate-leg table -  William and Mary period side table - Walnut side table - William and Mary period carved wood table

One of the chief innovations of the Stuart and Commonwealth period (1603-60) was the gate-leg table. It appeared in Jacobean times but was perhaps not fully developed until after 1650. The turned leg was
predominantlya Commonwealth innovationand the plain column turning shown in the example above is typical of the period although the design continued for many years. Early Gate-leg tables were
made of oak, walnut or oak with elm tops. The example above is the latter. There are about twelve different types known, some being very rare. The number of legs varied from four to twelve and size from verysmall
side tables to fully-blown diningtables to seat twelve people. The stretchers on many were left square, as above, with the two top edges relieved by a slight bead mould. On other and richer examples the stretchers
were turned, not always to match the legs. All framing joints are mortice and tenon, with oak dowel pegs: in the mahogany gate-leg tables of the 18th century the joints were not pegged, as glue was then used and
framing was cramped while it set. If design and size permitted a drawer was fitted set in the under framing, having a special carriage and runner made of a horizontal slat of oak, fixed longitudinally in the drawer
space. The bottom of the drawer then slid on this; side bottom runners are known, but are rare. The top centre section was held on by oak or walnut dowels until the 18th century, when screws were put through the underside of the framing to secure it.
Value points: 6 seater  8 seater  12 seater
Late 17th century oak gate-leg table, of fairly small dimensions, which could seat four people. Note the bun-shaped feet and the more developed turning of the legs.
Size: - again larger tables to seat more people gain value probably following:-
4 people 6 people 8 people 12 people
N. B. This criterion does not apply to very small gate-leg tables for side use, which command a high premium.
Small oak side table c. 1675. The simple column turning of the legs and the stretchers is of the same type as the gate-leg table illustrated earlier. The top is fixed to the framing with oak dowel pegs. The two drawers
fit tight under the top without a lock rail in the framing. Note that there are now simple bun-like feet under the square leg-stretcher joints, which lift the stretchers slightly higher off the floor. On original undisturbed
pieces the dowels protrude abovethe level of the surface (stand proud).
A William and Mary period side table, of a type generally found in walnut, but also frequently decorated with marquetry. The serpentine X stretcher is also found on earlier tables, but the inverted cup form on the turned
legs is more generally associated with William who brought over Dutchcraftsmen from whom this form originates. The legs would be in solid walnut whereas the top, sides, drawer front and stretcher would be
veneered.
Price Range: Marquetry
Walnut side table of the post ‘Restoration’ period c. 1680. The twist turning so popular to the Restoration period continued to be used on the legs and stretchers of tables though simple turning ’still persisted. Walnut was by far the most favourite wood though oak by no means went out of use. While the legs and bun feet are solid walnut, the top and drawer fronts are veneered. The veneered stretcher is Y shaped at each end,
connected by an oval widening - intended for a bowl. It is more common to have one drawer only and the best examples would be inlaid with marquetry panels.
A William III side table inlaid with seaweed marquetry. The thumDnail moulding is ebonised. The double-scroll legs of square section are particular to this period and not to everyone’s taste, but the stretcher form and flat bun feet are typical. Seaweed marquetry of this quality demanded a high degree of skill and such pieces are
increasingly rare.
William and Mary period with arched A solid walnut side table of drawer. The X-shaped stretcher is shaping of the frieze below the
well illustrated and the heavy turning and bun feet are typical. Note the thumb-nail top edge moulding.
Value points: Proportion and quality of leg turning  Shaping of frieze
William and Mary period. The baluster turning of the legs shows later characteristics but the country maker has retained the square stretchers and construction from an earlier period. Note the drawer fitting tight under the lock rail and the square, pegged tenon joints. This type of table was made well on into the late 18th century.
Value points: Walnut  Fruitwood
William and Mary period carved wood table,decorated with gilt and gesso. The decoration of furniture by gesso was done in order to economise in carving by giving a pattern in slight relief without the need to carve it. It was a rich man’s style and comparatively small quantities were made, chiefly small tables and mirror frames. The style appears to have had a relatively short duration, from 1700 to 1735.
A William III Walnut Card Table,the oval folding top veneered outside and inside with burr -walnut, cross banded and with herringbone lines, the shaped frieze with three small drawers, on six tapering octagonal legs including two rear gate-legs, united by stretchers, and with turned feet.