Chippendale Mahogany Single-Drawer Card Table

Object Details

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Chippendale Carved Mahogany Card Table

Unknown
ca. 1760-1790

wood; mahogany; white oak; southern yellow pine; eastern white pine; hickory

Chippendale Carved Mahogany Five-Legged Card Table

Unknown
ca. 1760-1790

wood; mahogany; red oak; yellow-poplar; hickory

Object Essay

Unlike the contemporary Philadelphia table (see Acc. No. 78.7), this example has a top conforming to the shape of the rails, as is more customary. In addition to its fine ball and claw feet, this table is distinguished by its applied band of gadrooned molding at the front and side skirts, a feature more often found on New York gaming tables (see Acc. No. 75.25). The wide drawer, now with replaced brasses, and the four shell-carved knees were options, added at extra cost. The purchaser perhaps saved a few shillings by having only half a shell carved on the two rear legs; the rear face of each leg, which in any case would have been out of sight when the table was stored against the wall, remains uncarved.^{1_{For related tables with acanthus-carved knees, see Hornor 1935, fig. 157, and Hummel 1976, fig. 100.}}

The shells carved on the knees of this table are of a type often encountered in Delaware Valley furniture, including case furniture and chairs. Shells were an option that was not always exercised, as in the case of a card table formerly in the collection of C.K. Davis.^{2_{See Sack Collection, 5: P4359.}} Related tables retain the shell-carved knees but substitute a scalloped rather than gadrooned apron or lack carving anywhere except on the feet.^{3_{Ibid., 2: 1298, 3: P3246.}}

By tradition, the table was acquired by Dr. Horton from a Miss Collins, a descendant of the Harrison-Edwards-Collins families of Philadelphia. Other Philadelphia Chippendale-style furniture with a history in this family has been published.^{4_{Hornor 1935, figs. 160–62.}}

Gerald W. R. Ward

Excerpted from Clement E. Conger, et al. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991.