Dining Table, Gateleg

DateCa. 1725

MediumMahogany, sycamore, tulip poplar and beech

DimensionsOH: 28 3/8"; OW: 42 1/2"; D (closed): 19"; OD (top open): 53"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1930-211

DescriptionAppearance: oval top with leaves open; rounded edge to top; each end of skirt shaped in cyma versa and recta curves; single drawer in one end on skirt with wooden knob in center; drawer grooved on sides to fit interior runners; four legs to central section, each turned from top to bottom in baluster and cup shape; squared section where stretcher secured to leg; stretcher to central section turned in a series of rings; one gate at each side with inner and outer vertical elements and stretchers at base turned in a reduced version of the central section at top of gate rectangular in cross section; flattened ball feet on all legs.

Construction:
The two board top is pegged from the face with wooden pegs to the legs, front and rear rails and side rails and secured with a screw from the underside of the front rail drawer opening. The rear and side rails are tenoned and double through-pegged to the square upper element of the turned legs. The front rail is tenoned to the legs. The drawer blade is tenoned and through- pegged to the legs.

The turned stretchers are tenoned and pegged to the square lower element of the legs. The swing leg assemblies on each side consist of a turned leg into which an upper rail and turned lower rail are tenoned and through-pegged, and in turn the rails are tenoned and through-pegged into a turned stile that is in turn round tenoned into the side rails and through round tenoned into the side stretchers. The round tenons are fitted loosely to allow the leg assembly to swing. The upper and lower square elements of the swing leg are relieved as are the side rails and stretchers so that the two will lap join when the leaves are lowered.

The leaves are joined to the table with two butt hinges that are inset into the underside of the leaves and underside of the table top. Repair plugs and remnant stems indicate that previous hinges were secured to the underside of the leaves and tabletop from the face of the leaves and table top with (probably) rivets. The side rails have been relieved at the location that the rivets would have penetrated.

The compressed ball feet are integral to the legs, including the swing legs. The feet are drilled and fitted with iron caster retainers.
The drawer is of dovetail construction, with two large dovetails at either end of the sides. The bottom is chamfered to rest in dados in the front and sides, and is nailed from below to the edge of the back. The front is mahogany, the sides, back and bottom of tulip poplar. It is a hung drawer with a deep dado on each side which correspond with drawer supports nailed to the side rails. A drawer stop is nailed to the proper right side rail above the drawer support.
The table is of mahogany with the exception of the side rails (skirt braces) which are beech, and the drawers as noted.

Woods: Primary wood is mahogany with sycamore frame, tulip poplar and beech drawer sides, back and bottom, and beech (micro) skirt brace.
MarkingsNone found.