Antique Tables
Sheraton Antique Table
Sheraton's tables were very slender and graceful. He designed drop-leaf tables with reeded legs, and decorated with inlay. He occasionally made use o elaborate marquetry in his dressing-tables, employing veneers and inlays of ebony, tulip-wood, satinwood, and various other tinted woods. Sheraton's best tables are scareely ever found in this country; hence there is a strong temptation to counterfeit. About 1800 these delicate lines disappeared and he influence of the French Empire styles began to be elt. Some of these heavy, elaborate French tables and stands found their way to this country, including consoles with marble pillars and much gilding, most of our furniture by this time, however, was ade, and some of it was not without artistic home merit. It was largely Empire in type, but much simpler, and tempered by the Sheraton influence. Fine mahogany was a fetture, especially beautifully grained veneer. On this the American cabinet-makers depended for beauty rather than upon carving or inlay. Heavy scroll effects were used, and the tables were often made with round or octagonal veneered central pillar, or a lyre-shaped pedestal, and four scroll-shaped feet. The veneered dining-tables of this period are still to be found in use in old families, and are well worth preserving as heirlooms.
Then heavy carving became fashionable, and finally, just prior to the black-walnut period and the age of machine-made monstrosities, an even heavier center pillar was the rogue often octagonal or square, with a square base, and ball-shaped feet or a scroll at each corner.
Like other old furniture, tables are reproduced and faked not a little. There is an especial demand f0 old mahogany dining-tables, and this demand the fakers do their best to meet. It is not safe to buy old dining-tables from an'\. but the most reliable dealers. The same is true of Chippendale and Sheraton stands and tea-tables, and the better class of American-made pieces.
Above all, beware of pie-crust tables offered for sale for less than $100. They are either out-and-out reproductions or else plain old tables with the tops carved down to make the raised gallery. The genuine pie-crust top feels thick between the thumb and finger.
Old tables of good style, that are known to be genuine, bring high prices. The old English gate-leg tables of oak are worth from $85 up, according to beauty, condition, and historical associations. Walnut gate-legs are worth from 575 up, and those of cherry about $60.
Pie-crust tables, that can be proved to be genuine, are worth large sums. The demand for them is such that it is safe to set the minimum value at $300. One such table brought $7000 not long ago, and $ 1000 is not an uncommon price. Accordingly, the pie-crust tables that are offered for sale for $so or $75 are open to suspicion.
Mahogany dining-tables, even those of the early nineteenth century, are worth from $300 up. Good Sheraton pieces are worth $400 or so.
Sheraton card-tables with slender reeded legs are worth from $125 to $200, but the heavier pieces usually found here bring only S )o or $60. The more common types of old tea-tables, etc., are worth from o up, according to style, carving, wood, etc.
