ANTIQUE FEDERAL PERIOD NEW ENGLAND TIGER MAPLE DROPLEAF DINING TABLE WITH DRAWER
With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in presenting this exceptional antique dining table. Our passion for collecting Early American antiques along with a love of colonial era homesteads has led us to acquire some of the finest dining tables from each of the respective historic periods. While tables from the William & Mary and Queen Anne periods are undoubtedly important and deserving of preservation and care, most surviving examples are not well suited for regular use. The table which we now offer is both a historic treasure and a practical solution for anyone requiring a dependable table that will last for generations.
This table is an exceptional Federal period example dating to the last quarter of the 18th century. Two dropleaf ends are supported from underneath by swinging gateleg supports and the original hand forged iron hinges. The apron of the table houses a long single drawer which is quite rare when compared to the majority of comparable dropleaf dining tables produced at this moment in history. The drawer is constructed with hand-cut dovetail joinery and features a single brass knob along with a hand chamfered drawer panel. Six expertly turned legs provide the table with considerable support and refinement with wonderful compact ball turned feet and graceful proportions only a master turner could achieve. The table is enhanced by pegged joinery construction which will continue to provide strength and structural integrity without any need to repair loosened joints or gaps in the frame.
The most incredible aspect of this antique dining table is the solid tiger maple lumber sourced from wonderous old growth New England timbers centuries ago. The boldly figured grain pattern is the absolute finest naturally found material that any furniture builder could have ever hoped to acquire. During the late 18th century flitches of lumber with grain of any strong distinction were considered too valuable for regular furniture construction and therefore were selected to be utilized for veneer. Instrument grade lumber is the highest tier of these prized caches of wood reserved for violin and other fine instrument craftsmen. We simply can not overstate just how special this marvelous table is particularly with respect to the exceptional overall condition. With the leaves down the table measures 21 1/4” wide x 43 3/4” deep x 29 1/4” tall. When the leaves are locked up the table measures 61 3/4” wide.
