Images(9)

Breakfast Table

Date1790-1810

OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Newport

MediumMahogany, white pine, maple (possibly) and light and dark wood stringing

DimensionsOH: 27 5/8"; W (closed): 18 3/4"; OW (open): 33 5/16"; OD: 31 7/8"

Credit LineGift of Robert Iverson

Object number2022-32

DescriptionAppearance: A rectangular breakfast table with two rule-jointed hinged leaves; cockbeaded drawer at one end with central bail and rosette brass pull; matching faux drawer front at opposite end; drawer front outlined in rectangular lightwood stringing with indented corners; straight, tapered legs inlay at top, flanking drawer, with urn on pedestal; lightwood cross banding with dark and lightwood strining on top and bottom edges across base of skirt and crosses tops of legs; legs inlaid with loop of lightwood string and three graduated bellflowers with dot on top, string down the legs, and loop at ankle.

Construction:
Rear rail, front drawer blade, and fixed outer side rail ends are tenoned into legs; top front rail is tenoned or dovetailed at top of leg; full length inner side rails are nailed from the inside to the fixed outer side rail ends; outer side rail knuckle joined to fly rail; fly rail relieved on underside for fingers; drawer supports nailed to the inside face of inner side rails along bottom; vertical drawer stops nailed to inner side rails at end of drawer supports (about three quarters of depth of table); chamfered glue blocks at joints of inner side rails and top behind drawer; top is screwed to the frame from screw pockets: one from the inside the ends rail, one under the top front rail, and two from the outside of the outer side rails at each end; leaves are rule jointed and hinged with two iron butt hinges.

Drawer is of standard dovetail construction; the bottom board, with grain oriented side to side, is chamfered along the sides and front and in dados in the same and nailed to the underside of the back with two rosehead nails; segmented glue blocks (or kerfed full length runner) are glued to the bottom along the sides, square at back; drawer front and faux drawer front at rear end have single bail and rosette brass pull (probably original).

All nails rosehead.

Mahogany with white pine secondary wood; outer rails mahogany.
Label TextRectangular tables with hinged leaves like this example were known in the period as breakfast, tea, and Pembroke tables. Thomas Jefferson may have referred to the form as a "Tea table" with "leaves" in 1772 and English furniture designer Thomas Sheraton wrote that the name could be ascribed to the Countess of Pembroke "who first gave orders for one of them." Sheraton also specified in 1803 that the "use of this piece is for a gentleman or lady to breakfast on." This example is attributed to Newport, Rhode Island where cabinetmaker Holmes Weaver produced tables with related urns and bellflowers.
MarkingsModern paper label inside proper right side of drawer "BERNARD & S. DEAN/ Levy INC./ 24 EAST 84TH STREET/ NEW YORK, NY 10028-0427/ TELEPHONE (212) 628-7088/ SPECIALIZING IN THE FINEST AMERICAN ANTIQUES AND ART SINCE 1901"
ProvenanceDonor purchased from Bernard & S. Dean Levy. This may be table RIF3320 which is listed as being owned by Nathan Liverant & Son, Colchester, CT in 2007.