Card table

Date1805-1810

MediumMahogany, white pine and brass

DimensionsOH: 29 1/2"; OW(open): 36"; OW (closed): 17 3/4"

Credit LineGift of the John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, Fund, Inc., through the generosity and interest of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, and members of the family.

Object number1979-222

DescriptionCarved mahogany card table with hinged and folding top of a clover-leaf form. Narrow frieze faced with light-colored mahogany showing characteristic paneling of dark wood inlay; the frieze bordered with a delicate brass beading and ornamented with two small turned finials under corners. The top is supported on a vasiform pedestal, carved with vertical acanthus leaves, rising from three outsplayed and tapered legs carved for half of their length with depending acanthus leaves, then reeded and terminating in brass paw feet. The two rear legs are so arranged that they pivot when the top is open, thus providing greater stability.

Construction: Top held to the skirts by screws set in wells; the front skirt is a three piece horizontal lamination; two front finials are nailed to the bottom of the skirt and the back two are tenoned to the skirt; two front to back battens are in sliding dovetails in the center of the rear rail and screwed to the table top near the front skirt; the rear rail is comprised of three boards; the central rear rail is screwed to the underside of the top; a block in front of the central rear rail is glued in place; the board behind the central rear rail has two hinges shaped with hand holds that swing to support the top when opened; two trapezoidal boards are set in notches on the tops of the three board rail; they create a shallow box that houses an iron mechanism which connects the hinged flys to the two side legs; the pedestal is tenoned to the three rail block; the two side legs are fitted into the pedestal with metal strips attached to rods extending through the pedestal; metal braces screwed to the side legs' underside also connect them to the mechanism for the flys; the front leg is in a sliding dovetail and supported by a metal support.