Dining Table

Date1725-1750

MediumWalnut, oak, and cedar

DimensionsOH: 27"; OW: 41"; OD: 17"(leaves down); OD: 47 1/2" (open)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-168

DescriptionAppearance: Dining table, with rectangular top, shallow thumb moulding on leaf edges; supported by opposite end legs that swing out on gates attached to frame by hinged joint. End skirts with gothic cut-outs; scrolled knee blocks; curved and uncarved knees; cabriole legs ending in trifid feet.

Construction: The two board top is pegged with wooden pegs to the end rails, interior side rails and fixed sections of the outer (swing) rails. The two corners with fixed legs are tenoned and double pegged into the upper (square) section of the legs and fixed section of the outer rail. On the two corners with swing rails, the inner rails are half-blind dovetailed to the end rails. Chamfered corner glue blocks in these corners help strengthen the dovetails.

The fixed sections of the outer rails are nailed from the inside to the inner rails, which are cut off 1-2” short of reaching the end rails at the nailed end. A medial rail is dovetailed from the underside of the rails, with the dovetails extending through the inner rail into the outer rail to which it is nailed with early wrought nails. Wooden wedges are inserted in the dovetails between them and the inner rails. The swing elements of the outer rails are joined to the fixed elements with knuckle joints.

Shaped knee blocks are nailed to the legs and to adjoining rails. An integral quarter round molding at the end facing edge of the upper square section of the legs overlaps the end rails and extends down to the knee of the cabriole legs. The legs terminate in integral triphid feet.

The two board leaves connect to the top with a rule joint. The leaves are supported with butt hinges that are inset in the leaves and the underside of the table top and secured with screws.
The top, legs, knee blocks and end rails are walnut. The inner side rails and medial rail are cedar, and both fixed and swing sections of the outer side rails are oak.
MarkingsNone found.