Card Table
Furniture MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1800-1820
MediumPine and maple
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x diameter of top when open): 28 1/2 x 36in. (72.4 x 91.4cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1983.73.0
DescriptionPainted card table in the Federal, or neoclassical, style. The round top of the card table is constructed of two halves, or leaves, joined at each corner with a hinge. The top sits above a semi-circular frame supported by four slender, tapered legs. There are three curved rails at the top front of the frame, and a straight rail in the back. The rear left leg of the card table swings back to form a support for the upper leaf, when open. The open top of the card table has a raised edge surrounding a recessed surface which would have been lined with fabric (now missing).
Painted decoration. The card table is elaborately painted with red, green, black and brown on a white background. The top leaf has a painted upper surface that is visible when the top is closed. The top leaf has a roughly 3 1/2 inch border of flowers and leaves. The exposed edges of each leaf are painted with two parallel black lines. The raised border at the edge of the playing surface is painted a deep red with black stripes. The front center rail is painted with a cello, or stringed instrument, sheet music, and leaves inside a black rectangle with canted corners. Each side rail has an oval containing a pair of crossed leaves, or palms. The top of each leg is painted with a vertical rectangle containing a fan-like oval. Each leg has a tapered panel of painted leaves on a white background at the top.
Condition: Multiple areas of paint have been touched on each leg and on the rails; the repainted areas have discolored. All the paint on the frame, especially the legs, is now flaking badly. The paint on the top and most of the skirt is in tact. The painted top of the top leaf has a stain in the center back and two small drips of paint, one yellow and one grey. Small areas on the front rail and the top of the front left leg have a layer of an unknown white substance, possibly the results of conservation work. The painted surfaces on the leaves are well worn, stained, and scratched. The baize is missing from the open top of the card table, and remnants of newspaper are adhered to this surface. The top surface, when open, is also well worn and stained. Two areas of the raised border around the open table top are replaced. The back right glue block is missing from the frame.
Design and Construction Details:
Top Construction. Each leaf is formed of three boards: a center section with two smaller boards on either side to complete the semi-circular curve of each side of the leaf. These boards are each joined with a tongue-in-groove joint. When the leaves are open, the top edge of each leaf has a 3/4 inch deep wooden border. The center of the table was probably lined with baize, and later with newspaper (remmants of a textile and newspaper are present). The top is joined to the two front and back right legs, possibly with a peg, screw or nail.
Frame Construction. Each leg extends the full height of the table. Each curved rail is formed of four horizontal, curved layers of wood that are laminated together, or brick built. These are tenoned to the full-height leg posts at the front and back right. The back left leg is the fly leg; it swings on a knuckle joint on the back rail and is shaped to fit into the back left corner of the frame. The back of the card table is constructed of an single inner rail and a two exterior rails that are joined in the center. The inner rail extends the full width of the card table. The right end of this rail is tenoned into the back right leg, while the left end of this rail is dovetailed to the ends of the left side rail. Both the fly rail and the fixed part of the hinged rail are tenoned into the back leg post. They are joined in the center with a knuckle hinge. Each corner, where the back inner rear rail meets the side rail, has a glue block (the back right glue block is missing).
Painted decoration. The card table is elaborately painted with red, green, black and brown on a white background. The top leaf has a painted upper surface that is visible when the top is closed. The top leaf has a roughly 3 1/2 inch border of flowers and leaves. The exposed edges of each leaf are painted with two parallel black lines. The raised border at the edge of the playing surface is painted a deep red with black stripes. The front center rail is painted with a cello, or stringed instrument, sheet music, and leaves inside a black rectangle with canted corners. Each side rail has an oval containing a pair of crossed leaves, or palms. The top of each leg is painted with a vertical rectangle containing a fan-like oval. Each leg has a tapered panel of painted leaves on a white background at the top.
Condition: Multiple areas of paint have been touched on each leg and on the rails; the repainted areas have discolored. All the paint on the frame, especially the legs, is now flaking badly. The paint on the top and most of the skirt is in tact. The painted top of the top leaf has a stain in the center back and two small drips of paint, one yellow and one grey. Small areas on the front rail and the top of the front left leg have a layer of an unknown white substance, possibly the results of conservation work. The painted surfaces on the leaves are well worn, stained, and scratched. The baize is missing from the open top of the card table, and remnants of newspaper are adhered to this surface. The top surface, when open, is also well worn and stained. Two areas of the raised border around the open table top are replaced. The back right glue block is missing from the frame.
Design and Construction Details:
Top Construction. Each leaf is formed of three boards: a center section with two smaller boards on either side to complete the semi-circular curve of each side of the leaf. These boards are each joined with a tongue-in-groove joint. When the leaves are open, the top edge of each leaf has a 3/4 inch deep wooden border. The center of the table was probably lined with baize, and later with newspaper (remmants of a textile and newspaper are present). The top is joined to the two front and back right legs, possibly with a peg, screw or nail.
Frame Construction. Each leg extends the full height of the table. Each curved rail is formed of four horizontal, curved layers of wood that are laminated together, or brick built. These are tenoned to the full-height leg posts at the front and back right. The back left leg is the fly leg; it swings on a knuckle joint on the back rail and is shaped to fit into the back left corner of the frame. The back of the card table is constructed of an single inner rail and a two exterior rails that are joined in the center. The inner rail extends the full width of the card table. The right end of this rail is tenoned into the back right leg, while the left end of this rail is dovetailed to the ends of the left side rail. Both the fly rail and the fixed part of the hinged rail are tenoned into the back leg post. They are joined in the center with a knuckle hinge. Each corner, where the back inner rear rail meets the side rail, has a glue block (the back right glue block is missing).
Status
Not on view
