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 Posted - 27/03/2006 : 14:31:45
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I have a mahogany demi-lune card table. It's small, has a fold-over top, 4 square tapered legs, and is veneered with a flame mahogany on the top, has a rather wide (approx. 1") cross banding around the green baize (old but replaced) playing surface, and rather plain veneer everywhere else, i.e. no stringing or other decorative embellishment. It was offered to me as "Georgian" (which gives me about a century to play with) and it certainly has the look and feel of a George III piece. However, rather than a fold out leg pivoted with a nice knuckle, it has an extra central leg at the rear which slides out (revealing a drawer) so as to offer support to the opened table top. The veneer is not knife-cut paper thin but is about right for an 18th century piece.
Can anybody offer advice as to the likely manufacture date of this and specifically whether the style of sliding leg/drawer arrangement was used during the period or is this a later idea? Any other pointers I should look for that might better date this piece would be appreciated.
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12 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 18:37:52
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| So no help for me on this then. Anybody? |
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Posted - 27/08/2006 : 11:29:39
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I've started to restore this piece now and have taken a closer look at it. The frieze is of 'brickwork' construction and is english oak as are the legs. The table tops are typical pine boards butted and glued togeter to make up width, but no cleats hiding end grain. The top was fixed to the base unit with glue and glue blocks which had been replaced by an earlier repairer and obviously new. Basic and cheap construction.
What I'd like to know is this a 18th or 19th Century piece and how can I tell?
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Clifford Garrett
Starting Member
United Kingdom
31 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2008 : 11:11:28
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| It took a while for the penny to drop, but it occurred to me that the piece is not English. The table is I believe of continental construction. The Clues were with hind sight obvious; legs and rails all solid oak, joined with big 6:1 dovetails, veneered with dark Cuban mahogany. I've now seen a few pictures of the type which were either French or Dutch so I'm guessing French. I must finish restoring it. |
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Clifford Garrett
Starting Member
United Kingdom
31 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2008 : 10:20:28
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Message Posted on behalf of Bob Hicks
Clifford,
I tried to post this note in the BAFRA forum, but it kept rejecting it, so I thought I would send to you directly if you don't mine.
I also have a demi-lune card table with the sliding leg/drawer design which I purchased locally two years ago from someone who could tell me little about it. I have assumed it was English because it is what I would describe as Queen Anne style, with cabriolle legs having carved scrolls at the tops and pad feet. The legs appear to be walnut, but may be mahogany with a walnut stain. The frieze is veneer, perhaps walnut, and the top is burled walnut veneer. The playing surface is baize, probably replaced some time ago. The metal hinges appear to be an old cast design. The screws retaining the top appear not to be hand made but may have been added or replaced as the screw pockets appear to be newly added or re-cut, with the original patina missing. Also , a few nails that exist in the drawer are wire nails and may have been added later as a repair. There is evidence that old nails were removed. The drawer bottom appears to be plywood, which I understand would not be found on an old piece, but it may have been replaced. I am very curious as to its age.. I was hoping it was 18th century, but could be as recent as late 19th century. Since our tables share this unique leg/drawer arrangement and you are in Europe (I am in the USA), I was hoping that you might learn more about the leg/drawer design history that might yield a clue as to its origin and approximate age. Also, since you are from England and involved in antique furniture restoration, perhaps you may be familiar with this type of demi-lune table. Any suggestions you may have would be appreciated.
If it interests you or would be of value, I can send a digital photo. Let me know.
Thanks in advance for any comments you may have.
Bob Hicks
Beverly Hills, Michigan, USA
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Demi-lune card table
