Card table

Date1725-1735

MediumMahogany, oak, and deal

DimensionsOH: 27 3/8"; OW (top): 33 3/8"; OD (top closed): 16 3/8"; OD (top open): 33 5/8"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1967-454

DescriptionAppearance: Square card table (when open) with rounded corners; when open, shallow, circular depression in each corner of top and shallow, oval depression centered at each side; rectangular, shallow depression at center of top extending to the circular depressions at each corner and lined with modern green baize; skirt straight across bottom on all sides and shaped at corners to conform to top; 4 cabriole legs, each flanked by a shaped bracket and "C" scroll extending from the bracket over the leg; each leg terminates in a pied de biche (the hoof divided into 2 parts and the back toe scored); left rear leg pivots on a gate to support top in open position; flush drawer behind support for leg that pivots.

Construction: Front rail is dovetailed to the side rails; proper right side rail is half blind dovetailed to rear fixed rail; the proper right rear corner is rabbeted on the rear end of the side rail for the leg to overlap when closed; the proper left side rail is tenoned into the proper left rear leg; the fixed portion of the swing rail is tenoned into the proper left rear leg; the fixed rear rail is nailed from the inside to the fixed portion of the swing rail; the swing rail is knuckle joined to its fixed portion and tenoned into the proper right rear leg; the knuckle joint is reinforced on the top and bottom edges of the rail with inset iron knife hinges secured with wrought nails (iron hinges are not original; wood of knuckle joint is cracked); top of proper right rear leg is rabbetted to overlap side rail when closed; rounded front corners of table are formed with shaped oak glued to the front and side rails presumably flanking top of leg post; the side and front rails as well as the rounded corners are veneered in vertically oriented mahogany; shaped knee blocks are glued to the side of the legs and underside of the rails.

Drawer in rear fixed rail behind swing rail is oak throughout and has standard dovetail construction with a front to back oriented bottom board glued into rabbets on all sides and secured along the front with nails (possibly not original); drawer is supported by two rabbetted oak drawer supports that are half blind dovetailed to the underside of the front and rear rails; rectangular drawer stops are glued in the rabbets of the drawer supports at rear; a drawer guide is glued to the underside of the top between the front and rear rails on the proper left side of the drawer.

The top is attached to the frame with small deal triangular and chamfered rectangular glue blocks. The fixed and folding leaves of the top are hinged together with card table hinges.

Woods: Primary: mahogany
Secondary: oak carcass to veneered skirt, gate, brace, and all parts of concealed drawer; deal glue blocks.