English Sutherland Tables
TABLES Sutherland
The Sutherland table is a 19th Century English Victorian form of gateleg table with a particularly narrow centre section. It has the virtue that when the flaps are down the piece fits into a very small space. It is thus a useful occasional table. The earliest designs are by W. Smee & Son, from 1850 with the typical twin column ending. The single stem is first shown in 1864 and an example is illustrated left.
The heavy rounded bun turned in the end column and the markedly carved feet pronounce a relatively early date. A good solid piece and not, by Victorian standards, very fussy. Booth shows a less solid but similar
example in 1864. c. 1865
Nowadays this would be a veneer merchant’s waiting room table, but to the Victorians the use of segments of exotic stained woods was just another way of making impressive furniture. The fluting, thin line
decoration and beading suggest the date.
Square flaps are less common and the design books show several for the 1880s. This design of foot appears at that time. Spirals are shown for the late 1870s. Those here are well turned and the general quality of the
piece is high. But why make a different turning for the gates Economy c. 1880
Another late example. Black and lots of turning for the sake of it without any idea of creating an overall design. Black is so unpopular that the best thing to do is to pop it in the stripper caustic tank.
Tags: 1870s, 1880s, Black, design, ENGLISH, example, furniture, occasional table, Sutherland, table, Tables, Victoria, victorians, waiting room