Images(4)

Card table

DateCa. 1750

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Norfolk (possibly)

MediumMahogany, white oak, and tulip poplar

DimensionsOH: 27 1/4" OW: 32 7/8"; OD(top)open: 21 7/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962-116

DescriptionAppearance: "Square" top with round, turreted corners when open; cylindrical/turreted corners; inside of top covered with wine-colored felt and decorated leather stripping (both reproduction); four corners surrounded by circular moldings; dished wells for counters, one on each side of top; straight skirt, shaped at bottom, with front corners following cylindrical shape of top; single drawer in front with bail pull and shaped back plate; molding around two sides and bottom of drawer; four cabriole legs; edged with c scrolls on either side of knee; legs terminate in pad feet on disc; proper right rear leg sings out to support top.

Construction:
The inside rear rail is dovetailed to the PR (proper right) side rail and tenoned to the upper section of the PL rear leg. Both side rails are miter joined to the front rail. All interior corners are reinforced with chamfered rectangular glue blocks (replacements for earlier larger glue blocks). The (replaced) fixed rail of the swing leg assembly is screwed with modern screws to the inside rear rail. It is joined with a knuckle joint to the swing rail which is in turn tenoned and double pinned to the upper section of the swing leg which is rabbeted to overlap the rabbeted end of the PR side rail. The hinged top is joined to the fixed top with scissor hinges and is relieved at the center of the back edge to receive a corresponding central leaf edge tenon on the fixed top.

The cabriole legs have carved scrolls on the inside edges and terminate in pad feet on integral discs. The legs extend as stiles to the underside of the top

The top is joined to the front, rear and side rails with screws (or possibly nails) from above, the joining reinforced on the underside of the top with modern replacement glue blocks. The front rail is relieved for the drawer with a single bead molding nailed to the edges of the opening. Drawer supports are tenoned to the front rail and through-tenoned to the inside rear rail. Drawer guides are nailed to the outer sides of the drawer supports.

The turreted tops of the front legs are made up of three quarter-round sections. The center section is an integral extension of the front legs. It is glued on either side to quarter rounds that are integral with knee blocks that are in turn glued to the legs. The 270 degree assembly is in turn glued to the mitered corner of the front and side rails and screwed or nailed from above to the top.

The drawer is of dovetail construction with the bottom nailed into a rabbet in the front and, from below, into the underside edge of the sides and back. Drawer sides and back are original, bottom appears to be a replacement. Drawer hardware appears to be original.
The table is mahogany with the exception of the swing leg rail and inside rear rail which are oak. The drawer front is mahogany, drawer sides, back and bottom are tulip poplar.

Woods: Primary: Mahogany with secondary woods, white oak and tulip poplar.
ProvenanceAccording to former owner, the table was owned by a Mr. Field, who gave it to Mrs. Lucy Tabb Dillard Okeson of Norfolk, Virginia, who died in 1914.