Images(2)

Tea table

DateCa. 1750

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston

MediumMahogany throughout

DimensionsOH: 28 17/8"; OW: 29 7/8"; OD: 18 3/4"

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

Object number1991-83

DescriptionAppearance: Tea table; rectangular tray top with shaped applied edge and rounded, notched corners; skirt with broad band of convex molding with scalloped and ogee shaped lower edge; four cabriole legs with carved C-scrolls at each side of the knee; legs terminate in pad feet on disks.

Construction
All elements of the table are mahogany. The rails are tenoned and double pegged into the legs. The two-board rectangular top was rabbeted around the perimeter with the thin remaining edge rounded to create a bead. The curved edge of the top and carved corner pieces were applied in the rabbet and appear to have been pegged or nailed to the top from the top. The top is nailed, possibly in the rabbet below the applied curved edge, to the rails. The skirt’s convex scalloped molding was glued and possibly nailed or pegged to the front of the straight rails along the bottom edge.
Label TextSome of the first American tea tables were produced as trays positioned on stands. Slightly later versions like this example were made with fixed tops whose high molded edges gave the illusion of the earlier tray form. The molding helped retain the expensive ceramics that were used for serving and drinking tea.

This tea table relates quite closely to a handful of Boston, Massaschusetts tea tables including CW's 1930-245 that descended in the family of Rev. Daniel Shute of South Hingham, Massachusetts, yet the 1892 inscription on the underside of this table clearly indicates an ownership in the Shoemaker and Williams family of Philadelphia in the mid-18th through 20th centuries.

InscribedInscribed in chalk on underside of table "S [or L] Williams/ Paoli".
Paper label on underside of top inscribed in ink:
"This table belonged to Susannah Shoemaker (a great aunt of Grand Mother Hannah Williams) She died early in the present century - it is probably 150 yrs old (H. W. Rob[erts] 1892) there are two high backed walnut chairs with loose hair covered seats that go with it. I prize the set very much."
ProvenanceDescended in the Shoemaker and Williams families of Pennsylvania.
Donor purchased from Israel Sack, Inc. in 1985.

Possible line of descent:
Susanah Shoemaker (1737-1809) married Benjamin Albertson (1730-1808) at Trinity Church, Oxford in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1755.
Son Jacob Albertson (1755-1833) and Mary Roberts (1753-1835) married in Gwynedd, PA in 1782.
Daughter Hannah Albertson (1784-1848) married Jesse Williams Sr. (1780-1814)
Daughter Phoebe Williams (1810-c1893) who married Jacob Roberts (1810-1893) in 1837 or daughter Sarah Williams (1808-1884) who lived in various Chester County, PA towns including Malvern (next to Paoli).
Daughter/Neice Hannah W. Roberts (1842-1894) of Malvern, Chester County, PA (daughter of Phoebe Williams Roberts).
Sister Sarah W. Roberts (1847-1902) of the same.
Brothers Josiah A. Roberts (1837-1913) and/or Joseph Roberts (1840-1918).

Joseph Roberts 1918 will indicates that the Williams family furniture, silver, linen, dishes, etc. should go to the sons of Uncle Jesse Williams and be divided among them.

"Uncle Jesse Williams" was Jesse Williams Jr. (1814-1874), son of Jesse Williams and Hannah Albertson, who married Frances Stokes of Plymouth Meeting, PA in 1842.
Based on Joseph Roberts' 1918 will and the provenance supplied with the table, it likely passed to "Uncle" Jesse's son, Edward B. Williams (1856-1930), and Ida Meyers Williams (1867-1957) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Son, Edward S. Williams (born 1907) and Marian G. Williams (born 1915) of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.