Images(4)

Card table

DateCa. 1770

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

MediumMahogany, yellow pine, oak, tulip poplar, and cedar

DimensionsOH: 30"; OW: 35 1/4"; OD (closed): 17 1/2"

Credit LineBequest of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Hennage

Object number1991-75

DescriptionAppearance: Card table with rectangular tops, one fixed and one folding, with rounded front and side edges; straight skirt with gadrooned lower edge; gadrooning crosses tops of legs; large cockbeaded drawer in center of front skirt with two, possibly original, bail and rosette pulls; straight legs with chamfered inner corners and molded on outer sides; molding runs entire length of legs to top; applied C scroll knee brackets; proper right rear leg hinged to swing open to support top when open.

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 inner rear rail is dovetailed to the proper right (PR) side rail and nailed with rose head nails to the fixed section of the swing rail that in turn is tenoned to the PL rear leg. The fixed section of the swing is knuckle joined to the swing section which in turn is tenoned to the (PR) swing leg.

The folding top is joined to the fixed top with inset scissor hinges. The top is stabilized with a medial leaf edge tenon on the joining edge of the fixed top.

The fixed inner rail and top front rail are joined to the underside of the fixed top with pocket screws (modern). A series of chamfered glue blocks secure the underside of the top to the side rails, top font rail and inside fixed rear rail.

L- shaped drawer guides with integral drawer supports and are nailed inside the side rails.

Molding runs the entire length of the legs on the out-facing facades. The inside corners of the legs are chamfered below the rails.

Flat gadrooned molding is nailed from below to the underside of the side rails and drawer blade. The gadrooned edge of the molding is inset around the legs so that it appears to cross the legs and run without interruption under the rails. C scroll knee brackets are nailed with modern nails to the front legs and underside of the gadrooned molding.
The bottoms of the legs are drilled for now missing casters.

The drawer is of dovetail construction with bottom chamfered on the underside edges to fit into dados in the front and sides. It is nailed from the underside to the edge of the back. A series of rectangular glue blocks, mitered at the corners, join the bottom to the front and sides. Brass bail and rosette drawer pulls appear to be original.

Woods: yellow pine interior rear rail, oak rear swing rail, tulip poplar drawer sides, cedar drawer bottom.
ProvenancePurchased by donor from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1978