With our absolute highest compliments Bay Colony Antiques takes the utmost pleasure in offering this exceptional and rare antique dining table. This particular dropleaf table is without question one of the very rarest and most desirable specimens which we have ever offered. Overall the table is very unassuming and would perhaps go unnoticed by even the most avid antique collectors. Without the benefit of having a look at the underside one could be forgiven for surmising that this table is just an ordinary and traditional example of an American dropleaf form table of the late 18th century. Only a seasoned collector or scholarly antique restorer with extensive experience would have enough background knowledge to distinguish this example from a table of similar age and form. We have had the great fortune of collective lifetimes working within the New England and larger American antiques market and have the benefit of having owned countless traditional dropleaf tables. With the utmost confidence we can proudly offer this example as perhaps one of the earliest and best preserved examples that can be found anywhere.
The entire table is constructed from old growth Santa Domingo or Honduran mahogany which was exclusively sourced by maritime traders in the middle of the 18th century. At this time, only the earliest New England coastal communities had access to this exotic lumber from as far north as Portsmouth, NH to the coastline of Connecticut. Based upon the primitive form of the table and the history which was provided by the previously owner we believe this table originated somewhere around Mystic, Connecticut close to the year 1760. The table was likely commissioned by someone in the maritime industry whos profession may have included whaling, smuggling, or transatlantic trade. It is even possible the first owner of this table engaged in all three endeavors at once. The early seaside homes along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shoreline from this era are smaller than most other regions and this could explain why this table is so unusually diminutive compared to dropleaf tables made elsewhere. The scale of this table is perhaps the absolute finest any collector could ever hope to find with the overall length measuring 36" wide and it having an overall depth of 15 1/2" with the leaves dropped downward. Antique collectors are commonly known to pay record prices for tables which have an early and distinguishable history, are of an uncommon size or proportion, made from premium or uncommon antique lumber, and represent the earliest known examples of their form. These attributes all belong to this table with it having been fashioned in the Chippendale manner just as the style began to take hold in America in the middle of the 18th century. The table stands on four Marlborough formed legs which each have an accent bead molding throughout. Early primitive iron hinges support the leaves and attached them to the table frame. The surface of the table is absolutely perfect with respect to it having the most desirable of patinas due to the table never having been refinished and only cleaned occasionally throughout centuries of existence. Two of the three primary mahogany boards are crotched lumber which appear to be bookmatched companions and the additional board exhibits desirable old growth and exotic grain pattern. There are some black oxidation marks on the top which add to the appeal of the undisturbed original surface. The table expands to be 42 1/4" wide and stands 28" tall with the overall length measuring 36" long and the width is 15 1/2" when the leaves are downward.
