Would
you recognize a “butterfly” table or a “chair” table? These
are just two types of tables made in the 18th century. In
those days a table was more than a table or had a double
function. A good example is the “chair” table that easily
converted. Also known as the hutch table, it sometimes had a
storage compartment under a hinged seat. Another form, the
circular hutch table, was built on trestle ends. By the early
19th century the chair table was mounted on turned legs. It
and other styles of tables changed over the 18th and 19th
centuries, as the structure of American society changed. New
fashions and manners also influenced these changes.
In
early Colonial America the trestle table, basically a long
board, resting on trestles, was called “table board and frame”.
It evolved into a variety of styles such as tea tables, serving
tables and sewing tables.
Another
popular Colonial style was the gateleg table. It took on a new
form as the single-gate or tuck away table.
A style
unique to America was the “butterfly” table. It had a swinging
bracket instead of a gateleg. It got its name from the
wing-shaped bracket. It came in many shapes and sizes. Some had
a drawer in the frame.
By the
end of the 18th century, the growing middle class began filling
their homes with quality furniture. However, since their homes
were modest and the rooms small, the tables were scaled down to
meet their space needs. Even more important, they didn’t want
just smaller copies of old furniture fashions, but new and
different styles. For instance, heavy old woods such as oak were
outdated. The trendy woods were mahogany, fruitwoods, walnut,
ebony and birch. Comfort also played an important role in
innovations in dining table designs. By the early 19th century
either tripod or quadrupled pedestals gave diners comfortable
leg room.
Most of
the styles were adapted from English pattern books such as
Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite. However, when they became
“Americanized” from 1788 to around 1825, they were lumped under
the single name “Federal” style.
The
English custom of tea drinking brought about the American
version of the small te table that could be easily moved. One of
the earliest styles was the mahogany tripod. Designed for
practicality, it had a swiveled top. When no used it was folded
up and placed against the wall.
Another
small 18th century table was the wine table, with a pierced,
metal gallery top. An 18th century version of TV tray tables,
were nested tables. Originally designed by Thomas Sheraton, they
are characterized by slender legs and tops often having inlays
of contrasting woods. Usually they came with three or four
tables, that decreased in size to fit “nest” under each other.
By the 19th century they were made of black lacquer and exported
from China.
CLUES:
All of these popular table styles have been and continue to be
reproduced. Late 19th century reproductions are being seriously
bought as antiques, which they are.
However, since there is such a price variance between the
original period pieces and those done later, careful examination
is a must. Warping, period construction and signs of wear, as
well as patina, should be taken into consideration. Of course
the 19th century pieces will have signs of wear and patina. They
will have circular saw marks, when visible, rather than the
cross-hatched tool marks of period pieces.
If you have any questions, you can Email us at
antshoppe@aol.com
The Antique Shoppe
Newspaper
"Florida's Best Newspaper for Antiques
and Collectibles
PO Box 2175, Keystone Heights, FL 32656-2175
Phone: (352)475-1679 Fax: (352)475-5326
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