Images(5)

Dining Table, Drop Leaf

Date1750-1770

OriginEngland

MediumMahogany, oak, and beech

DimensionsOH: 28 3/16 in.; OW (open): 57 1/16 in.; OW (closed): 20 1/8 in.; OD: 41 1/2 in. (71.6 × 144.9 × 105.4cm)

Credit LineGift of David and Janet Brashear

Object number2020-400

DescriptionApperance: Oval drop leaf dining table. Flat rectangular top with rounded ends; pair of semi-circular leaves, hinged with rule joint on each side; skirt on ends undercut with a flattened arched with integral returns; legs rounded at top corners becoming cylindrical and tapering toward bottom, terminating in pad feet; tops of swing legs slightly overlap end rail when closed. Two fixed legs and two swing legs joined to fixed rails with knuckle joints.

Construction
The side rails are formed by the fixed and swing sections of the swing rail knuckle-jointed together. Both sections of the swing rail are tenoned and double pegged to the tops of the legs (fixed leg at the fixed end and swing leg and the swing end). The end rails are also tenoned to the fixed legs. A vertical medial brace is double-through-tenoned, with wedges, to the fixed sections of the swing rails near the middle of the table. Inner side rails, slightly chamfered at the nailed ends, are nailed with wrought nails to the fixed portions of the swing rails next to the medial brace and are half-blind dovetailed to the end rails. The fixed top is attached to the table frame with screws in pockets in the fixed portions of the swing rails and the end rails. The two leaves of the top are rule jointed to the fixed top and hinged with three iron butt hinges on each side.

The side rails and fixed interior rails are oak, the center support rail is beech.