Images(6)

Breakfast table

Dateca. 1785

OriginEngland

MediumHarewood, satinwood, kingwood or tulipwood, mahogany, oak, brass, and leather

DimensionsOH: 19" OW: 19 1/2"

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

Object number1991-81

DescriptionAppearance: Oval breakfast table with two drop leaves; harewood veneered top with cross banded kingwood or tulipwood edge and large satinwood and other woods oval pattera with scalloped edges in center with dots and husks or bellflowers at ends of each fan blade. Pattera has oval center with small round end grain woods in center surrounded by satinwood scallops, green leaf elements against a dark wood background and larger satinwood scallops with encised floral motif and fan elements surrounding inner oval; drawer in one end of table with faux drawer at rear; drawer with harewood center outlined in light and dark string and cross banded kingwood or tulipwood at ends, which crossbanding continues on drawer blades above and below drawer, brass and blue enamel oval pulls with urn incised in enamel center (possibly added later); drawer flanked by three light inlaid flutes on darker veneered background at tops of legs; projecting square edge molding around legs at level with bottom of skirt; carved stop fluted tapering legs teminating in brass castors with leather wheels.

Construction:
A ½” tall mahogany front rail is screwed to the underside of the top at the front and is glued and probably dovetailed into the tops of the front legs. The rear rail (false drawer front) is tenoned into the legs. Vertical chamfered glue blocks in the rear corners of the frame strengthen the joining, The drawer blade is double tenoned to the legs. It is beveled on the lower outside edge. The side and back rails are joined to the top with pocket screws.

The fixed sections of the leaf supports are glued to the outside of the full length side rails at each end and the laminated rail is tenoned into the legs. The leaf supports are joined to the fixed sections with knuckle joints. The supports are “S” shaped and notched on the underside for finger access. Stops for the supports (replacements) are glued and nailed to the underside of the leaves.

The leaves are rule joined to the top with three inset iron butt hinges on each side.
Drawer supports are nailed to the inside of the side rails. Upper drawer guides are nailed to the upper edge of the side rails. Vertical rectangular drawer stops (proper right replaced) are nailed on each side to the side rails. A side to side (possibly modern) ½” x 4” board is screwed to the underside of the top apparently to stabilize the joining of the two boards of the top. The front edge of the board is beveled to avoid interfering with closing the drawer.

The harewood square tapered legs are stop fluted on the out facing sides and veneered with light inlaid flutes within a stained veneered background (same wood for flutes and background veneer) above the lower edge of the rails. Square brass cup casters are screwed to the feet.

The front rail and drawer blade are cross banded. The curved drawer front and curved face of the rear rail are mahogany with harewood veneer and cross banding. The drawer and rear rail are chamfered below the crossbanding. Table top and leaves are mahogany with harewood veneer and crossbanding.

All veneer is harewood and cross banding is kingwood or tulipwood.
The side rails and leaf supports are oak with a red stain.

The drawer is of dovetail construction with curved mahogany drawer front veneered with harewood with cross banded side edges. The drawer back and bottom are oak. Bottom is set in dados in the sides and nailed from below to the edge of the back.
Two-piece drawer pulls are pressed brass with engraved blue enameled flower vase center (possibly replaced or added)
InscribedIn ink on paper label on underside of drawer "Miss. A. G. H[u]dson/ (Long..[off] Beverley.)/ For Storage: June. 1908./ To Messrs. WHi[ld or bel]am & Son/ Toll Gavel Beverley/ With great care" Toll Gavel was apparently a road in Beverley, Yorkshire, England.
ProvenancePurchased by donor from Needham's Antiques, Inc. in 1964