Antique Tables

Chippendale Antique Table

During the eighteenth century some French tables of the periods of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI were brought to this country, and some of them are still in existence-fair examples of the French styles of those periods. But they were not widely used here in Colonial days, and most of those now to be found in the shops have since been brought from Europe. Those that are still in useful condition are too rare to be of great interest to the collectors of Colonial furniture.

We now come to the Chippendale period in England. From 1720 to 1780 tables were made of cherry, walnut, and mahogany, with four cabriole legs, with or without ball-and-claw feet, and with more or less carving. These became more and more like Chippendale's work, until about 1750, when many of them followed his style closely. Tables of this type are therefore often called Chippendale, but it is doubtful if there were ever very many genuine Chippendale tables in this country, and authentic examples of his work are now rare and costly. The tables made by other cabinet-makers in his style, however, are not to be rejected, as many of them are very fine, particularly those of mahogany, with carved legs and ball-and-claw feet. Chippendale's books of design, by the way, do not show a single piece of furniture with ball-and-claw feet, though he may have used that feature in his earlier work.

It may be interesting to know, however, that Chippendale designed and constructed a number of different kinds of tables-tea-stands in Chinese style, lamp-stands, console-tables, dressing-tables, card-tables, etc. As with his other work, he made use of Dutch, French, and Chinese details at different times, and combination, of there, and the best of his work is remarkable for its exquisite carving and boldness of curve. The square-topped silver-tables, with a raised rim or gallery in a Chinese fret pattern, are occasionally to be seen in this country.

By 1780 the style of Chippendale had gone out of fashion. The Classic designs of the Adam brothers paved the way for Heppelwhite's preeminence, and later for Sheraton. The cabriole leg gave place to the straight, slender, tapering leg, square or round, and usually fluted. It was still much used, but inlay took the place of carving. Many of the card-tables and pier-tables designed by Heppelwhite and Sheraton had beautifully inlaid tops. Often the tops of these card-tables were hinged across the middle, so that when half of it was lifted, and they swinging leg drawn in, it could be placed close against the wall, with half the top resting upright against the wall, or closed over on the other half. A similar type of card-table was made in this country of rosewood, carved, and with a green baize instead of an inlaid top.

Heppelwhite designed a number of types of small tables, many of which were copied by other makers There was a dressing-table with a shield-shaped mirror, and a sewing-table. the top of which lifted, disclosing a cabinet with compartments, or a drawer h a silk or velvet bag. Mahogany work-tables of this general type were also made in America, without inlay, with one or two small drawers, square tops, two drop leaves, and four twisted or fluted legs. These work-tables and the tripod tea-tables are the kinds most likely to reward the search of the country-side collector.