Dining table

Date1750-1790

MediumBlack walnut, yellow pine

DimensionsOH: 28"; OW (top): 41 1/2"; OD (leaves down): 13 7/8"; OD (leaves up): 52 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1966-519

DescriptionApperance:
Dining table; One rectangular leaf at each side; straight skirt; 4 legs, 2 of which swing on a gate to support the top in open position; each leg square in section at upper fourth, then circular in section and taper from top to feet and terminate in small ball with 4 shallow carved claws; feet originally made by splicing blocks to two outer faces of feet (this feature not to be confused with the splicing of feet to restore claws)

Construction:
Rule-joined leaves are suspended from two iron butt hinges on each leaf. While the central fixed top is one board, the leaves are each two separate boards, with patches on the undersides near the joints, suggesting some later work to the leaves.

The central portion of the top is fixed to the frame with wooden pegs connecting the table top to the top of the fixed legs and into the end rails at the corners where there are swing legs. The side and end rails of the frame are dovetailed at the corners where there are swing legs and tenoned into the fixed legs; wrought nails join the inner side rails and fixed hinge rails together. The hinge rails are tenoned into the swing legs. Both swing hinge rails on either side are connected to the fixed hinge rails with knuckle joints pivoting around a wooden peg (scribe lines centering the peg in the knuckle joints are visible on the underside of the swing hinge rails).

The fixed side rails are thinner than the end rails.

The tops of the swing legs are rabbeted to fit around the corner of the frame when the leaves are down. The legs are turned (with some turning marks visible) and terminate in carved claw and ball feet.
InscribedNone found.
MarkingsNone found.
ProvenanceAccording to source, recovered in southern Virginia.