Images(4)

Urn Stand

Date1780-1800

Maker Unidentified

OriginEngland

MediumMahogany and oak

DimensionsOH: 28”; OW: 12 1/8”; OD: 12 1/8”

Credit LineBequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage

Object number2020-369

DescriptionAppearance: Square stand with straight, tapered legs, square in cross-section; raised cove molding around perimeter of top; top has cross banded edge separated from central section by lightwood banding; each side of skirt is veneered in mahogany across rail and tops of legs and has same cross banding and lightwood banding outlining side, with light wood bead along lower edge of skirt and lightwood string along top edge; front of table has small slide with cross banded front edge and central brass ring pull; tapered legs have lightwood string along the corners; turned, baluster shaped cross stretchers with flat block in center and baluster shaped ends tenoned into legs.

Construction:
Front, back and side rails are tenoned into the legs. The top is joined to the sides with three rectangular glueblocks (with inside corners chamfered) on each side. The front rail is relieved at the top edge (under cove molding) for the slide. The slide consists of a mahogany board joined perpendicularly to a mahogany end board (mortise and tenoned or tongue and groove) and faced with vertical mahogany veneer. It is supported by two boards with rabbeted inner edges screwed to the underside of the top. A stop block (replacement) is screwed across the underside of the slide about three quarters of the way back.

The turned cross stretchers are tenoned into the mahogany legs and lap-joined to each other. Mahogany veneer is applied to the bottom 7/8” of all four surfaces of each leg to add thickness and serve as feet.

A raised cove molding with lightwood banding is mitered at the corners and glued to the edge of the top. A bead is appliled in a rabbet and groove around the base of the skirt and across the tops of the legs.

Primary woods are mahogany, secondary woods are oak.

Label TextSmall square stands like this example with a small slide were used in the 18th to early 19th century for hot water urns in parlors. The likely silver hot water urn would be placed on the stand and the tea pot to be filled could be positioned on the slide. In this way, the lady of the house could ceremoniously prepare tea for her family and guests. George Hepplewhite provided a number of designs for the form in THE CABINET-MAKER AND UPHOLSTERER’S GUIDE (London, 1794, pl.55 & 56).
ProvenanceDonors purchased from Needham's Antiques in 1964.