Card Table

Dateca. 1775

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMahogany. white pine, tulip poplar, and oak

DimensionsOH:29 1/2"; OW:35 1/2"; OD: 18"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-118

DescriptionAppearance: Card table, Serpentine top with rounded front corners unfolds; leaf is supported by leg at proper right that swings out from back. Long drawer in front with brass handles with round backplates (replaced) at either end; keyhole escutcheon in center. Front and sides of skirt straight; gadrooned moulding nailed to base. Four straight unmoulded Marlborough legs, chamfered on inner corners; plinths at base.

Construction
The side rails, upper front rail and drawer blade are tenoned to the front legs. The proper left (PL) side rail is tenoned to the PL rear leg. The fixed back rail is tenoned to the fixed back (PL) leg and dovetailed to the proper right (PR) side rail. The fixed section of the swing rail is tenoned to the fixed back (PL) leg and nailed with wrought nails from the inside to the fixed back rail and knuckle joined to the swing rail which in turn is tenoned to the swing leg.(PR) Swing leg overlaps rabbeted rear end of PR side when closed.

A series of rectangular glue blocks secure the top to the front rail, fixed back rail and side rails.

Rabbeted drawer supports/guides are nailed to the sides. Rectangular drawer stop blocks are glued to the fixed back rail. Marlborough foot panels with molded top edges are glued to the legs at the feet (not mitered). Legs are square with a chamfered interior corner.

The leaf is joined to the fixed top with inset scissor hinges. The open top is further supported with a medial leaf-edge tenon.

Gadrooned molding is nailed to the underside of the sides and front rail and is glued into dados in the front and side facing legs.

The drawer is of standard dovetail construction with the bottom chamfered on the underside to fit into dados in the front and sides. Rectangular ¼ x ¼” glue blocks (replacing larger blocks) reinforce the joining. The bottom is nailed to the underside of the back. Drawer pulls are replaced.

Woods: mahogany primary wood with oak rear swing rail; tulip poplar drawer bottom, sides, and back, all other secondary wood white pine.
Label TextThe Philadelphia cabinetmaker's price book of 1772 listed forms similar to this example as "Card tables with Marlborough feet." The addition of drawers, braces, or brackets, carved moldings, or chamfered tops raised the price. This mahogany table with a drawer and carved moldings would have cost £4. Because of the time and specialized knowledge needed for carving, the addition of moldings was worth one-quarter of the total price.
Inscribed"7778" on drawer sides in pencil and ink
Modern "9669/28" and "6[5]92 22" in chalk or white crayon on rear of swing rail.
ProvenanceEX COLL. Louis G. Myers

Exhibition(s)