Images(4)

Dining table

Dateca. 1770

OriginEngland

MediumMahogany, deal, and ash

DimensionsOH: 28 1/8"; OW (open): 56 1/2"; (closed) 18 7/8"; OD: 47 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1981-44

DescriptionAppearance: Rectangular dining table with two drop leaves; straight skirt; six marlbor legs, two swing legs at corners of frame for each leaf and two stationary legs under center of center section of table towards ends; marlboro legs are square in cross section with chamfered inner corners, center legs have double chamfer on two inner corners.

Construction: Deal sides of table frame half blind dovetailed at corners to mahogany end rails; fixed center portion of ash fly rails nailed from inside to table side rails, knuckle joined to fly rails; fly rails tenoned and pegged to tops of swing legs which are notched at top to overlap table ends when closed; upper and lower medial braces dovetailed into top and bottom of side rail with dovetail extending into the fixed center section of fly rail; lower medial brace slightly angled (ie not 90 degrees to side rails); triangular or chamfered blocks glued along table end rails, top medial rail, and top; vertical rectangular blocks glued in corners of table; full height ash rails are double through tenoned and wedged into the side rails at each end between end rails and medial rails; stationary legs are joined to the full height interior rails with bridal joints and screwed at top; fixed top attached to rails with screws in screw pockets inside side and end rails; hinged leaves are rule jointed and hinged to fixed top.
Label TextThe cabinetmaker's choice to use six legs for this dining table makes the form very stable when in use. The two legs inset towards the center of the table remain stationary while the four legs at the corners swing open to support the two leaves. Most 18th century dining tables only had four legs: two of which remained stationary at opposite corners and two of which swung open to support the leaves. While this arrangement worked due to the joinery of the table's frame, it was not quite a stable as a six-leg table.